effectiveness
Americannoun
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the quality of producing an intended or desired result.
For maximum effectiveness of your weight loss plan, you need to combine exercise with a healthy diet.
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the quality of producing a deep or vivid impression.
We were struck by the evident appeal and effectiveness of these short, dramatic, upbeat video stories.
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a measure of the success of a vaccine or other pharmaceutical when used in the real world, as opposed to the controlled environment of a clinical trial.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of effectiveness
First recorded in 1600–10; effective ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )
Vocabulary lists containing effectiveness
Reading: Informational - Middle School
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Media Literacy - High School
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Media Literacy - Middle School
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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.
He said there were still plans to review the effectiveness of the current escalation and intervention framework for health boards, which have "clearly shown to be wanting by the chronic issues at Betsi".
From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026
Although he supports the relocation effort, he questions its long-term effectiveness.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026
However, the rapid proliferation of advanced antiaircraft missiles by foreign adversaries has diminished the effectiveness of this strategy.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 24, 2026
In 2023, under the Biden administration, the FDA added them to a restricted compounding list, citing insufficient evidence to prove their safety and effectiveness.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026
His death was a severe setback to the government, and the effectiveness and aggressiveness of the Crown team diminished from that point on.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
