effective

[ih-fek-tiv]

See more synonyms for effective on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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.

noun

a member of the armed forces fit for duty or active service.
the effective total of a military force.

Origin of effective

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin effectīvus practical, equivalent to effect(us), past participle of efficere (see effect) + -īvus -ive

Related formsef·fec·tive·ly, adverbef·fec·tive·ness, ef·fec·tiv·i·ty, nounpre·ef·fec·tive, adjectivepre·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbqua·si-ef·fec·tive, adjectivequa·si-ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbsub·ef·fec·tive, adjectivesub·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbsub·ef·fec·tive·ness, nounsu·per·ef·fec·tive, adjectivesu·per·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbsu·per·ef·fec·tive·ness, nounun·ef·fec·tive, adjectiveun·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbun·ef·fec·tive·ness, noun

Can be confusedaffective effective (see synonym study at the current entry)

Synonyms for effective

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. capable, competent. Effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient refer to that which is able to produce a (desired) effect. Effective is applied to that which has the power to, or which actually does, produce an effect: an effective action, remedy, speech. Effectual is used especially of that which produces the effect desired or intended, or a decisive result: An effectual bombardment silenced the enemy. Efficacious suggests the capability of achieving a certain end: an efficacious plan, medicine. Efficient (applied also to persons) implies the skillful use of energy or industry to accomplish desired results with little waste of effort: efficient methods; an efficient manager. 2. operative. 3. telling.

Antonyms for effective

1. futile, useless.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for effective

useful, impressive, efficient, sufficient, powerful, direct, potent, practical, competent, valid, compelling, active, adequate, forceful, dynamic, effectual, efficacious, able, capable, cogent

Examples from the Web for effective

Contemporary Examples of effective

He could deliver a quick, effective speech, or hold a proper press conference.
Obama’s Pot Policy Is Refer Madness
James Poulos
January 5, 2015
If the embargo were effective, the Castro brothers would have been doing Love Letters with the Duvaliers years ago.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro
Doug McIntyre
December 24, 2014
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
While 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
In order to know what innovations work, you have to have good information on how effective your practices are.
Your Local School Doesn’t Have to Suck
Michael S. Roth
December 17, 2014

Historical Examples of effective

And, for the unaesthetic but effective Attila, an able fashioner of pork products from Chicago.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
In the last few meetings he had held he had found this an effective beginning.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr
But when he left argument and came back to experience he was most effective.
Understanding the Scriptures
Francis McConnell
And that was the one thing which was most effective in restoring Katy's nerves.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
Her tone is pure, her morals are high, her teachings are direct and effective.
The Boy Life of Napoleon
Eugenie Foa

British Dictionary definitions for effective

effective

adjective

productive of or capable of producing a result
in effect; operativeeffective from midnight
producing a striking impression; impressivean effective entrance
(prenominal) actual rather than theoretical; realthe 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 cycleSee also root mean square

noun

a serviceman who is equipped and prepared for action

Derived Formseffectively, adverbeffectiveness, 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

Word Origin and History for effective

adj.

late 14c., from French effectif, from Latin effectivus "productive, effective," from effect-, stem of efficere (see effect (n.)). Effectively in the sense of "actually" is attested by 1650s. Related: Effectivity.