Economic / Economical
Different meaningsEconomic relates to the economy; economical means thrifty, efficient in cost or not wasteful.
Economic
Use when
You mean relating to the economy, finance, trade or production.
Example
“The paper assesses the proposal's economic impact.”
Economical
Use when
You mean inexpensive to use or avoiding waste.
Example
“Shared hosting is the more economical option for the pilot.”
Quick check
economical policy, economic to operate, an economic option
Usage note