Something that is effective works well and produces the results that were intended.
Homoeopathic treatment can be effective in treating virtually any illness. [+ in]
Simple antibiotics are effective against this organism. [+ against]
...an effective public transport system.
Synonyms: efficient, successful, useful, active More Synonyms of effective
effectivelyadverb [usually ADVERB after verb, oft ADV -ed]
...the team roles which you believe to be necessary for the team to function effectively.
Services need to be more effectively organised than they are at present.
Synonyms: efficiently, successfully, skilfully, ably More Synonyms of effective
effectivenessuncountable noun
...the effectiveness of computers as an educational tool. [+ of]
Synonyms: power, effect, efficiency, success More Synonyms of effective
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Effective means having a particular role or result in practice, though not officially or in theory.
They have had effective control of the area since the security forces left.
The restructuring resulted in an effective increase on fares.
Synonyms: virtual, essential, practical, implied More Synonyms of effective
3. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
When something such as a law or an agreement becomes effective, it begins officially to apply or be valid.
The new rules will become effective in the next few days.
Synonyms: in operation, official, current, legal More Synonyms of effective
More Synonyms of effective
effective in British English
(ɪˈfɛktɪv)
adjective
1.
productive of or capable of producing a result
2.
in effect; operative
effective from midnight
3.
producing a striking impression; impressive
an effective entrance
4. (prenominal)
actual rather than theoretical; real
the effective income after deductions
5.
(of a military force, etc) equipped and prepared for action
6. 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 cycle
See also root mean square
noun
7.
a serviceman who is equipped and prepared for action
Derived forms
effectively (efˈfectively)
adverb
effectiveness (efˈfectiveness) or effectivity (ɪˌfɛkˈtɪvɪtɪ)
noun
effective in American English
(ɛˈfɛktɪv; ɪˈfɛktɪv; often iˈfɛktɪv; əˈfɛktɪv)
adjective
1.
having an effect; producing a result
2.
producing a definite or desired result; efficient
3.
in effect; operative; active
4.
actual, not merely potential or theoretical
5.
making a striking impression; impressive
6.
equipped and ready for combat
noun
7.
a soldier, unit, etc. equipped and ready for combat
usually used in pl.
SYNONYMY NOTE: effective is applied to that which produces a definite effect or result [an effective speaker]; efficacious refers to that which is capable of producing the desired effect or result [an efficacious remedy]; effectual specifically implies the production of the desired effect or result in a decisivemanner [an effectual reply to his charge]; efficient implies skill and economy of energy in producing the desired result and is oftenapplied to persons [an efficient worker]
OPPOSITE: futile
Derived forms
effectively (efˈfectively)
adverb
effectiveness (efˈfectiveness)
noun
Word origin
ME & OFr effectif < L effectivus
Examples of 'effective' in a sentence
effective
This umbrella approach is highly effective for conserving the great complexity of the natural world.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
But it also offers an effective means of sharing positive messages.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Its high turnover demands that robust, effective security controls are constantly maintained.
Computing (2010)
Particularly effective is the sound design - the bellowing rumble from the alien ships chills the blood.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's a system very effective in limiting choices.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This once great party continues to double up as a protest movement - and not a particularly effective one.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There’s very little evidence that command and control is effective, or can avoid a massive inflation of cost.
Computing (2010)
If that doesn't work, become more effective at applying for jobs.
The Sun (2017)
The results of effective training lead to improved job performance.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
To be an effective soldier requires control.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
To this end they make effective use of parables and stories.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
She suggested that fathers could be particularly effective in talking to their sons.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They are expected to have to do this at night when the camera is less effective.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This is why publishing more data would be an effective tool.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This chapter looks at some safe and effective treatments for these conditions.
Chaitow, Leon Body Odour (1994)
We will also make the planning system more effective.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
All of these treatments can be highly effective.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The real test will be whether it can take effective action in serious cases.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We all need to help others to become effective adults.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This one was particularly effective because the website looks so similar to the official site.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They work to make the public sector more effective.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
To make the present business effective may require one specific course of action.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING FOR RESULTS (1986)
Evidence has been growing that shows cash transfers to be an effective means of helping the poor.
Christianity Today (2000)
That we require far more effective control to be exerted over public spending is beyond doubt.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It was particularly effective on the bikini line.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The moratorium on commercial whaling is less and less effective each year.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They are a very effective money laundering tool.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The vast majority of patients receive safe and effective care.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Yet height and niceness are by no means the most vital ingredients in an effective and productive boss.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In fact some very effective speakers use a low volume when they want to emphasize a particular point.
Harris, Jean Everything You Need to Know for Success in Business (1990)
Everyone uses their imagination all the time, but not necessarily in particularly effective or productive ways.
Pete Cohen and Sten Cummins with Jennai Cox HABIT BUSTING: A 10-step plan that will change your life (2002)
To meet this challenge, trainers will need to be very effective in the areas they choose to work in.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
In other languages
effective
British English: effective /ɪˈfɛktɪv/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is effective produces the intended results.
This is an effective way of teaching languages.
American English: effective
Arabic: فَعَّال
Brazilian Portuguese: eficaz
Chinese: 有效的
Croatian: učinkovit
Czech: účinný
Danish: effektiv
Dutch: effectief
European Spanish: eficaz
Finnish: tehokas
French: effectif
German: wirksam
Greek: αποτελεσματικός
Italian: efficace
Japanese: 効果的な
Korean: 효과적인
Norwegian: effektiv
Polish: skuteczny
European Portuguese: eficaz
Romanian: eficace
Russian: действенный
Latin American Spanish: eficaz
Swedish: effektiv
Thai: ได้ผลดี
Turkish: etkili
Ukrainian: ефективний
Vietnamese: hiệu quả
All related terms of 'effective'
effective way
If you refer to a way of doing something, you are referring to how you can do it, for example the action you can take or the method you can use to achieve it.
cost-effective
Something that is cost-effective saves or makes a lot of money in comparison with the costs involved.
effective dose
the amount of a drug, or level of radiation exposure , that is sufficient to achieve the desired clinical improvement
effective policy
A policy is a set of ideas or plans that is used as a basis for making decisions , especially in politics , economics , or business.
effective remedy
A remedy is a successful way of dealing with a problem .
effective tactics
Tactics are the methods that you choose to use in order to achieve what you want in a particular situation.
effective vaccine
A vaccine is a substance containing a harmless form of the germs that cause a particular disease. It is given to people, usually by injection , to prevent them getting that disease.
effective opposition
In a country's parliament or legislature , the opposition refers to the politicians or political parties that form part of the parliament or legislature, but are not the government.
effective partnership
Partnership or a partnership is a relationship in which two or more people, organizations, or countries work together as partners .
effective protection
To give or be protection against something unpleasant means to prevent people or things from being harmed or damaged by it.
effective regulation
Regulation is the controlling of an activity or process, usually by means of rules.
effective half-life
the time required for half of a quantity of radioactive material absorbed by a living tissue or organism to be removed by both elimination and decay
brake mean effective pressure
Brake mean effective pressure is a calculation of the engine cylinder pressure that would give the measured brake horsepower .