effete

American  

[ih-feet] / ɪˈfit /

adjective

1. lacking in wholesome vigor; degenerate; decadent.

   an effete, overrefined society.

2. exhausted of vigor or energy; worn out.

   an effete political force.

   Synonyms:

   enervated

3. unable to produce; sterile.

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effete British  

/ ɪˈfiːt /

adjective

1. weak, ineffectual, or decadent as a result of overrefinement

   an effete academic

2. exhausted of vitality or strength; worn out; spent

3. (of animals or plants) no longer capable of reproduction

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Other Word Forms

• effetely adverb
• effeteness noun
• noneffete adjective
• noneffetely adverb
• noneffeteness noun
• uneffete adjective
• uneffeteness noun

Etymology

Origin of effete

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin effēta “exhausted from bearing,” equivalent to ef- “from, out of” ( ef- ) + fēta “having brought forth,” feminine past participle of lost verb; fetus

Example Sentences

Mostly that has meant pretending to be a Real American by riding horses, going hunting or driving around in a pick-up to prove they aren’t some effete city slicker.

From Salon • Nov. 23, 2025

“I’ll go after him for being ‘this effete knower of arcane knowledge, who knows little tidbits that no one would care about.’

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2023

It seemed that suddenly, people — men, largely — who perhaps were always cosmetically curious, but afraid of appearing effete, were giving it a try.

From New York Times • May 10, 2021

He’s concerned about it, and so is the culture, which is rife with rituals meant to appease masculine anxiety about being effete, domesticated, or bloodless.

From Slate • Apr. 27, 2020

Frasier considers Abstract Expressionism a tired, effete art form.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner