effective
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.
producing a deep or vivid impression; striking: an effective photograph.
prepared and available for service, especially military service.
a member of the armed forces fit for duty or active service.
the effective total of a military force.
Origin of effective
1synonym study For effective
Other words for effective
Opposites for effective
Other words from effective
- ef·fec·tive·ly, adverb
- ef·fec·tive·ness, ef·fec·tiv·i·ty [ih-fek-tiv-i-tee, ee-fek-] /ɪˌfɛkˈtɪv ɪ ti, iˌfɛk-/ noun
- pre·ef·fec·tive, adjective
- qua·si-ef·fec·tive, adjective
- sub·ef·fec·tive, adjective
- su·per·ef·fec·tive, adjective
- un·ef·fec·tive, adjective
Words that may be confused with effective
- affective, effective
Words Nearby effective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use effective in a sentence
He could deliver a quick, effective speech, or hold a proper press conference.
If the embargo were effective, the Castro brothers would have been doing Love Letters with the Duvaliers years ago.
Build evidence about the practices, policies, and programs that will achieve the most effective and efficient results.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball? | Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle | December 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhile there are a couple of antibiotics that usually work, if they are overused they, too, may cease to be effective.
Without Education, Antibiotic Resistance Will Be Our Greatest Health Crisis | Russell Saunders | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn order to know what innovations work, you have to have good information on how effective your practices are.
Whatever can be done to bring about the prompt and effective use of this new system of bank settlement will be done.
Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur PhillipsIt is a notable fact that under the wholly unusual circumstances prevailing, the recovery was so prompt and effective.
Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur PhillipsHowever able the matter, the reading, in my judgment, is much less effective than the spontaneous expression of the speaker.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowThus they had secured a monopoly in Munster and an effective competition with us in poor Connaught.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowIt was ten minutes before she raised her hand and pointed to a wilted but still effective screen.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
British Dictionary definitions for effective
/ (ɪˈfɛktɪv) /
productive of or capable of producing a result
in effect; operative: effective from midnight
producing a striking impression; impressive: an effective entrance
(prenominal) actual rather than theoretical; real: the effective income after deductions
(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
a serviceman who is equipped and prepared for action
Derived forms of effective
- effectively, adverb
- effectiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse