{ } a. [ F. économique, L. oeconomicus orderly, methodical, Gr. &unr_; economical. See Economy. ] 1. Pertaining to the household; domestic. “In this economical misfortune [ of ill-assorted matrimony. ]” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Relating to domestic economy, or to the management of household affairs. [ 1913 Webster ]

And doth employ her economic art
And busy care, her household to preserve. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Managing with frugality; guarding against waste or unnecessary expense; careful and frugal in management and in expenditure; -- said of character or habits. [ 1913 Webster ]

Just rich enough, with economic care,
To save a pittance. Harte. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Managed with frugality; not marked with waste or extravagance; using the minimum of time or effort or resources required for effectiveness; frugal; -- said of acts; saving; as, an economical use of money or of time; an economic use of home heating oil. [ wns=3 ] [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

5. of or pertaining to the national or regional economy; relating to political economy; relating to the means of living, or the resources and wealth of a country; relating to the production or consumption of goods and services of a nation or region; as, economic growth; economic purposes; economical truths; an economic downturn. [ 1913 Webster ]

These matters economical and political. J. C. Shairp. [ 1913 Webster ]

There was no economical distress in England to prompt the enterprises of colonization. Palfrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

Economic questions, such as money, usury, taxes, lands, and the employment of the people. H. C. Baird. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Regulative; relating to the adaptation of means to an end. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. of or pertaining to economics. economic theory [ WordNet 1.5 ]

8. profitable. Opposite of uneconomic. [ wns=4 ] [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

9. avoiding waste; as, an economical meal. Opposite of wasteful.
Syn. -- frugal, scotch, sparing, stinting, thrifty. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

☞ Economical is the usual form when meaning frugal, saving; economic is the form commonly used when meaning pertaining to the management of a household, or of public affairs. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With economy; with careful management; with prudence in expenditure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. ta` o'ikonomika`, equiv. to "h o'ikonomi`a. See Economic.] 1. The science of household affairs, or of domestic management. [1913 Webster]

2. Political economy; the science of the utilities or the useful application of wealth or material resources; the study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of a nation or region, and its effect on the wealth of a country. See Political economy, under Political. “In politics and economics.” V. Knox. [1913 Webster +PJC]

a. See Economical. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Economics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Politics) an economic hypothesis, proposed by President Ronald Regan, that large cuts in tax rates would so stimulate the economy that the tax revenue on the increases in business and personal income would offset the anticipated tax revenue losses, so that such tax cuts would not increasing the federal budget deficit. Its believers do not consider the actual massive deficit increases subsequent to the 1982-83 tax cut as being caused by the tax cut itself, but by other governmental policies. This hypothesis was graphically illustrated by the Laffer curve. [ PJC ]