zero-base

US: (zēr′ō bās′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ze•ro-base  (zēr′ō bās′), adj., v., -based, -bas•ing. 
adj. 

1. Economics, Business Also, ze′ro-based′. without reference to a base figure or to previous practice;
   according to present needs only, as opposed to a percentage increase or decrease of previous figures:
   zero-base planning; zero-base inventory.

v.t. 

2. Economics, Business to apply zero-base methods to.

• 1965–70