effective

American  

[ih-fek-tiv, ee-fek‐] / ɪˈfɛk tɪv, iˈfɛk‐ /

adjective

1. adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result.

   effective teaching methods; effective steps toward peace.

   Synonyms:

   competent, capable

   Antonyms:

   useless, futile

2. actually in operation or in force; functioning.

   The law becomes effective at midnight.

3. producing a deep or vivid impression; striking.

   an effective photograph.

4. prepared and available for service, especially military service.

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noun

1. a member of the armed forces fit for duty or active service.

2. the effective total of a military force.

effective British  

/ ɪˈfɛktɪv /

adjective

1. productive of or capable of producing a result

2. in effect; operative

   effective from midnight

3. producing a striking impression; impressive

   an effective entrance

4. (prenominal) actual rather than theoretical; real

   the effective income after deductions

5. (of a military force, etc) equipped and prepared for action

6. 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

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noun

1. a serviceman who is equipped and prepared for action

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 )

Explanation

If your email outlining a plan to reduce office paper waste resulted in a 20 percent reduction in paper use, that means your plan was effective: it did what you wanted it to do. The adjective effective has many shades of meaning, but you'll usually see it describing something that's able to produce a desired goal. Effective traces back to the Latin word effectivus, from efficere, meaning “work out, accomplish,” and that meaning still holds true. Something effective gets the job done. As President, hopefully your policies are effective. We also use effective for something real and in effect, like the effective price of gas, or your effective grounding.

Example Sentences

This reflective process helps us direct our attention in healthier and more effective ways, and it brings us in touch with our own capacity to respond.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

This includes identifying biomarkers that can be used to track the disease and developing new therapeutic targets that could lead to more effective treatments.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

Then came the official ban, finalized on July 3, 2024, and effective August 2 that same year.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

Coders may be worried about very effective new AI programming assistants, but Raman said there’s still a need for software engineers — as long as they’re prepared to take on different types of functions.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

Much like Hamilton’s financial plan, any effective emancipation initiative conjured up fears of the much-dreaded “consolidation” that the Virginians, more than anyone else, found so threatening.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• active
• adequate
• compelling
• competent
• direct
• efficient
• forceful
• impressive
• potent
• powerful
• practical
• successful
• useful
• valid