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

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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 effectiveness

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

Examples from the Web for effectiveness

Contemporary Examples of effectiveness

Ever since it was created in 1965, politicians and researchers have studied and debated its effectiveness.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball?
Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle
December 23, 2014
The culture of promotion through seniority kills creativity and effectiveness.
Your Local School Doesn’t Have to Suck
Michael S. Roth
December 17, 2014
The trouble comes from overconfidence in their effectiveness.
Kids Eat the Darndest Things: Laundry Pods, Teething Necklaces, and More Of The Weirdest Stuff Sending Kids to the E.R.
Russell Saunders
November 14, 2014
William Lloyd Garrison was probably the most prominent leader who relied on the effectiveness of hellfire.
Americans’ Burning Obsession With Hell
William O’Connor
September 26, 2014
The effectiveness of these pamphlets, and the awareness of its writers are apparent in one Lum digs up called “To Mothers.”
Americans’ Burning Obsession With Hell
William O’Connor
September 26, 2014

Historical Examples of effectiveness

The summary of a lesson, given by the class, is a test of the effectiveness of instruction.
College Teaching
Paul Klapper
Their help is essential to ensure the effectiveness of the exorciser's task.
The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria
Morris Jastrow
But this result only added to the effectiveness of the scene, though it was painful.
The Moving Picture Girls in War Plays
Laura Lee Hope
The face is that of an aloof and sunny spirit, full of energy and effectiveness.
William Shakespeare
John Masefield
But force of habit had utterly dulled its effectiveness as a weapon.
The Sign of the Spider
Bertram Mitford

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

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.