Expendability

/ɪkˌspɛndəˈbɪləti/ noun

Definition

The quality of being able to be spent, used up, or sacrificed without serious loss or harm.

Etymology

From 'expendable' (able to be spent) + '-ity' (quality of). Built from Latin 'expendere' (ex- 'out' + pendere 'to weigh, pay'). The '-ity' suffix creates abstract nouns.

Kelly Says

Military planners infamously classified soldiers as 'expendable'—treating humans as resources to be 'spent.' The word reveals how language can make moral horrors sound like accounting!

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