effectuate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of effectuate
1570–80; < Medieval Latin effectuātus brought to pass (past participle of effectuāre ), equivalent to Latin effectu-, stem of effectus effect ( effect ) + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
To effectuate is to produce a result or make something happen. Effectuating accomplishes things. Things that have an effect make something happen: they're significant in some way. Similarly, to effectuate is to cause something to happen or set it up so something can happen. A doctor who effectuates a cure has found a cure. A general who effectuates an attack has made the attack happen. Some people think computers effectuate a short attention span, meaning the short attention span is caused by computers. Effectuating is about cause and effect.
Vocabulary lists containing effectuate
This Week in Words: August 11 - 17, 2018
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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.
See Examples For:
“The board’s only credible path forward is to engage and work with me, one of lululemon’s largest shareholders, to effectuate substantial change,” Wilson said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
As you mentioned, it was that ambiguity with respect to the "effectuate" term that has since been removed from Judge Xinis' order.
From Salon ● Apr. 17, 2025
Developing a new interpretive model can push communities to articulate a constitutional vision and think about what structural changes are necessary to effectuate that vision.
From Slate ● May 8, 2024
She added that while "the number of people who have federal offences are very low, a pardon at the federal level doesn't effectuate the kind of record clearance we want to see".
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2023
Such things a serious oath doth imply, to such purposes swearing naturally serveth; and therefore to signify or effectuate them, Divine institution hath devoted it.
From Sermons on Evil-Speaking by Barrow, Isaac
A White House spokesperson said of the cuts at the time that EI-ISAC’s work no longer effectuated the priorities of the Department of Homeland Security.
From Salon ● May 21, 2026
That metric is called effectuated enrollment, which is viewed as a more accurate reflection of ACA enrollment than sign-ups.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 13, 2026
“Every time we’ve seen change occur it’s been effectuated from a revelation that has shocked people’s conscience, and that has been the motivator for change,” Walsh said.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 29, 2021
Roberts drew on the fact that the common law recognized what he called a “mere-touch rule”: the use of force effectuated a seizure, however slight.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2021
The Great Depression effectuated a sea change in American race relations and party alignment.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
His work continued, along with a few others, thanks to support from Murmur, an organization designed to support labels and industry names, effectuating the commitments made when the Music Climate Pact was signed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026
But they’ve argued that the new text, which would treat any person “responsible for regularly providing any services effectuating transfers of digital assets” as brokers is still too expansive.
From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2021
ISS centers its recommendations around whether the activists have made a compelling case that change is warranted and, if so, which nominees are more likely to succeed at effectuating the change.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 15, 2018
"We have had unprecedented success at effectuating the President’s agenda," Sessions said.
From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2018
By degrees truth will find its way to them from sources in which they will confide, and their aversion to removal may be overcome as fast as the means of effectuating it shall accrue.
From The Journal of Negro History, Volume 6, 1921 by Various
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.
