effectiveness

Rarely ef·fec·tiv·i·ty

[ih-fek-tiv-nis, ee-fek‐]

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

• subeffectiveness noun
• supereffectiveness noun
• uneffectiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of effectiveness¹

First recorded in 1600–10; effective ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

He said it meant residents and businesses would be able to "provide feedback on its effectiveness during the first six months of operation".

Read more on BBC

Immune rejection has been one of the biggest limitations of cell-based therapies, often weakening their effectiveness.

Read more on Science Daily

Union-friendly labor standards, which advocates say diminished the effectiveness of earlier housing bills, were dropped for all but the tallest buildings.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

While topical minoxidil is an approved therapy, its limited ability to dissolve in water and penetrate the skin reduces its effectiveness.

Read more on Science Daily

Villanueva downplayed the effectiveness of the thermal imaging cameras, noting that some chaparral in the city extends 15 to 25 feet underground, while the depth of the department’s cameras is only a foot.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• capability 
• efficacy 
• efficiency 
• potency 
• power 
• success