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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The Milagro Beanfield War
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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:
But in Batson cases, the colorblind rule really does help effectuate the 14th Amendment’s promise of equality.
From Slate ● May 28, 2026
“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
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
But how, when the morning came, should he proceed to effectuate his kind intentions?
From Ormond, Volume I (of 3) or, The Secret Witness by Brown, Charles Brockden
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
It is estimated that between 5 million and 14 million people will promptly lose Medicaid coverage once that change is effectuated.
From Slate ● Mar. 7, 2023
“I am gratified by this commitment. However, the university has not yet effectuated this promise, nor has it explained exactly how and when it will do so.”
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 5, 2022
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
“The president considers the seizure of the oil tanker as effectuating the administration’s sanction policies,” Leavitt said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025
"We have had unprecedented success at effectuating the President’s agenda," Sessions said.
From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2018
Of course, I suspect he will now start effectuating the development of the law from without!
From Slate ● Sep. 18, 2017
The effectuating cause of man's permitting himself to be seduced into sin, was not any fixed purpose or predestination of God, but man's perfect moral freedom.
From History of Rationalism Embracing a Survey of the Present State of Protestant Theology by Hurst, J. F. (John Fletcher)
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.
