consumption
/kənˈsʌmp.ʃən/- 1.
The act of using up food, energy, goods, or resources. It often describes how much people or systems use in a period of time.
- Water consumption rises in summer.
- Fuel consumption is lower in this car.
- The report tracks household consumption.
- 2.
The use of something such as food, media, or alcohol, especially in formal or technical contexts.
- Alcohol consumption can affect health.
- Young people’s media consumption has changed.
- The study examined sugar consumption.
- 3.
An old-fashioned word for the disease tuberculosis.
- In older novels, consumption meant tuberculosis.
- She died of consumption in the story.
- The term is now mostly historical.
Adinary Nuance
Consumption often sounds more formal than simple words like use or spending. For food, energy, or goods, it focuses on how much is used, not just the act of taking something in. In business and academic writing, it is common; in everyday speech, people often choose use, eating, or spending instead.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tiêu thụ
- Spanish
- consumo
- Chinese
- 消费
- Japanese
- 消費
- Korean
- 소비
Etymology
Consumption comes from Latin consumptio, from consumere meaning 'to use up' or 'destroy'. In English, it has been used since the Middle Ages, and the disease meaning was common before tuberculosis became the usual term.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is consumption formal or informal?
- It is mostly formal. People often use simpler words like use, eating, or spending in conversation.
- What is the difference between consumption and use?
- Use is general and everyday. Consumption sounds more technical and often means how much is used.
- Can consumption mean a disease?
- Yes, but that meaning is old-fashioned. It used to mean tuberculosis.
- Is consumption common in IELTS writing?
- Yes. It is common in academic topics like energy, health, and the economy.