efficiencyEnglishOxford American Thesaurusefficiency noun 1 there was a need to reform local government to bring greater efficiency: organization, order, orderliness, planning, regulation, logicality, coherence, productivity, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness. ▷antonyms inefficiency. 2 I must compliment you all on your efficiency and your bravery: competence, capability, ability, proficiency, adeptness, deftness, expertise, professionalism, skillfulness, skill, effectiveness, productivity, organization. ▷antonyms incompetence.