What is Token waste?
Updated July 21, 2026 · by Pedro
Token waste is spend on incomplete answers and correction loops. Vague prompts plus ~6 retries often use 12k–18k tokens vs 2k–3k for a structured one-shot on Sonnet-class models.
Why does this term matter for AI prompts?
Precise vocabulary reduces vague instructions. When you name token waste correctly in a brief, Claude, Cursor, and GPT spend fewer tokens guessing. Pair definitions with structure on AI prompt builder and cost math on prompt token cost.
More glossary terms
Full list: prompt engineering glossary.
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