Expendable vs Consumable - What's the difference?

As adjectives the difference between consumable and expendable

is that consumable is that is consumed or depleted upon use while expendable is able to be expended; not inexhaustible.

As nouns the difference between consumable and expendable

is that consumable is a material or product that is produced for consumption while expendable is an expendable person or object; usually used in the plural.

expendable

English

Adjective

(en adjective)

Able to be expended; not inexhaustible.

Oil and other expendable resources are frequently the subject of military disputes.

Designed for a single use; not reusable.

The anti-aircraft rocket is fired from an expendable launch platform.

Not essential or mandatory in order to achieve a goal.

The research department was deemed expendable , and its funding was not renewed.

That which is regarded as not worth preserving or saving; able to be sacrificed.

In the internecine rivalries of large corporations, whole departments may become expendable in the execution of one executive's power play.

Synonyms

* (not inexhaustible ): exhaustible, finite, limited * (not reusable ): dispensable, disposable, throwaway * (not essential or mandatory ): adjunct, dispensable, redundant, superfluous * (not worth saving or preserving ): collateral, inconsiderable, sacrificable, worthless

Noun

(en noun)

An expendable person or object; usually used in the plural.

Private Johnson was afraid the Lieutenant considered him an expendable , since he was always picked as point man.

Derived terms

* expendability * expendably

consumable

English

Adjective

(en adjective)

That is consumed or depleted upon use.

That may be eaten.

Noun

(en noun)

A material or product that is produced for consumption.

printer consumables such as toner and ink cartridges