expendable

/ɛkˈspɛndəbəl/

/ɛkˈspɛndəbəl/

Anything expendable is not necessary — it can be done without. If you lose or use expendable funds, you won't miss the money.

None of us wants to be called expendable — that means we could be replaced. If a football team isn't worried about certain players leaving for another team, then those players are expendable: they won't be missed and won't disrupt things if they leave. In war, some people are considered more expendable than others: a soldier is more expendable than a general, because there are far fewer generals. In any country, the least expendable person is the president or other leader of the nation. That's why they get so much protection from their security guards, who are considered much more expendable.

Definitions of expendable

1. adjective

   suitable to be expended
   synonyms:

   consumable

   may be used up

   sacrificeable

   may be deliberately sacrificed to achieve an objective

   replaceable

   capable of being replaced

   antonyms:

   unexpendable

   not suitable to be expended

   essential

   basic and fundamental

   irreplaceable, unreplaceable

   impossible to replace
2. adjective

   (used of funds) remaining after taxes
   synonyms: spendable

   disposable

   free or available for use or disposition