effective
Americanadjective
-
adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result.
effective teaching methods; effective steps toward peace.
-
actually in operation or in force; functioning.
The law becomes effective at midnight.
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producing a deep or vivid impression; striking.
an effective photograph.
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prepared and available for service, especially military service.
noun
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a member of the armed forces fit for duty or active service.
-
the effective total of a military force.
adjective
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productive of or capable of producing a result
-
in effect; operative
effective from midnight
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producing a striking impression; impressive
an effective entrance
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(prenominal) actual rather than theoretical; real
the effective income after deductions
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(of a military force, etc) equipped and prepared for action
-
physics (of an alternating quantity) having a value that is the square root of the mean of the squares of the magnitude measured at each instant over a defined period of time, usually one cycle See also root mean square
noun
Usage
What are other ways to say effective? The adjective effective describes things that are adequate to accomplish a purpose, or that produce the intended or expected result. But effective isn’t quite the same as effectual, efficacious, or efficient! Find out why on Thesaurus.com.
Related Words
operative. telling.
Other Word Forms
- effectively adverb
- effectiveness noun
- effectivity noun
- preeffective adjective
- quasi-effective adjective
- subeffective adjective
- supereffective adjective
- uneffective adjective
Etymology
Origin of effective
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English from Latin effectīvus “practical,” equivalent to effect(us), past participle of efficere ( effect ) + -īvus adjective suffix ( -ive )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The concept is simple but wildly effective, with enough force to push the viewer past many of the film’s fatuous elements.
From Salon
As an example, Qatar has 34 Patriot systems, according to IISS, but only has eight antiaircraft guns, which have been effective in shooting drones at short range in Ukraine.
However, new research suggests that its rapid growth in use has moved faster than the scientific understanding of how safe and effective it truly is for children over the long term.
From Science Daily
Its effective closure, as well as strikes on shipping and energy infrastructure since the war started, has led to a huge rise in global oil prices.
From BBC
The majority of these unregulated peptides have only been tested on animals, not humans, meaning they are not considered safe or effective.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
