effective

[ ih-fek-tiv ]

/ ɪˈfɛk tɪv /

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.

Nearby words

eff., effable, efface, effect, effecter, effective, effective conjugate, effective current, effective dose, effective half-life, effective osmotic pressure

Origin of effective

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

SYNONYMS FOR effective

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.

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ANTONYMS FOR effective

1 futile, useless.

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Related forms

ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbef·fec·tive·ness, ef·fec·tiv·i·ty, nounpre·ef·fec·tive, adjectivepre·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverb

qua·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 confused

affective effective (see synonym study at the current entry)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
The culture of promotion through seniority kills creativity and effectiveness.
Your Local School Doesn’t Have to Suck|Michael S. Roth|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
His powers depend for their effectiveness on their deliberative and strenuous exertions.
Mediaeval Socialism|Bede Jarrett
We have pressing need so to organize our system of administering criminal justice as to establish full vigor and effectiveness.
State of the Union Addresses of Herbert Hoover|Herbert Hoover
Gerard's chivalry momentarily lapsed and he struck back with all the effectiveness of superior experience.
From the Car Behind|Eleanor M. Ingram
Each day's training added something to the spread and effectiveness of the two machines.
The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories|Mark Twain
This test of effectiveness is a good one to apply to explanations, definitions, and questions.
Special Method in the Reading of Complete English Classics|Charles McMurry

British Dictionary definitions for effectiveness

effective

/ (ɪˈfɛktɪv) /

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 Forms

effectively, 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

effective

adjective

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of effective

SYNONYMS FOR effective

ANTONYMS FOR effective

Related forms

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for effectiveness

British Dictionary definitions for effectiveness

effective

adjective

noun

Derived Forms