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effective

[ih-fek-tiv]
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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.

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RELATED WORDS

potency, success, efficacy, effect, validity, capability, efficiency, strength, power, clout, performance, vigor, use, force, weight, point, verve, punch, forcefulness, cogency

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 effective 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. 2019

Examples from the Web for effectiveness

Contemporary Examples of effectiveness

Historical Examples of effectiveness

British Dictionary definitions for effectiveness

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 effectiveness
n.

c.1600, from effective + -ness.

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper