consumption

UK: /kənˈsʌmpʃ^ən/ US: /kənˈsʌmpʃən/ ,(kən sump′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•sump•tion /kənˈsʌmpʃən/   n. [uncountable]

1. the act of consuming.
2. the amount consumed:
   the high consumption of gasoline.
3. Business the using up of goods and services:
   Conspicuous consumption is the public display of the expensive goods that one can afford to buy.
4. Pathology Older Use. tuberculosis of the lungs.

See -sum-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•sump•tion  (kən sump′shən), n. 

1. the act of consuming, as by use, decay, or destruction.
2. the amount consumed:
   the high consumption of gasoline.
3. Business [Econ.] the using up of goods and services having an exchangeable value.
4. Pathology
   • [Older Use.] tuberculosis of the lungs.
   • progressive wasting of the body.

• Latin consūmptiōn- (stem of consūmptiō) a consuming, wasting, equivalent. to consūmpt(us), past participle of consūmere to consume (con- con- + sūmp- (variant stem of sūmere to take up, spend) + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion
• Middle French)
• Middle English consumpcyon (1350–1400

Synonyms

• 1. depletion, exploitation, utilization.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

consumption / kənˈsʌmpʃən/ noun

1. the act of consuming or the state of being consumed, esp by eating, burning, etc
2. expenditure on goods and services for final personal use
3. the quantity consumed
4. a condition characterized by a wasting away of the tissues of the body, esp as seen in tuberculosis of the lungs

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin consumptiō a wasting, from consūmere to consume