Origin: 1350–1400; Middle English <
Latin effectīvus practical, equivalent to
effect(
us), past participle of
efficere (see
effect) +
-īvus -ive Related forms ef·fec·tive·ly, adverb
ef·fec·tive·ness, ef·fec·tiv·i·ty, noun
pre·ef·fec·tive, adjective
pre·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverb
qua·si-ef·fec·tive, adjective
qua·si-ef·fec·tive·ly, adverb
sub·ef·fec·tive, adjective
sub·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverb
sub·ef·fec·tive·ness, noun
su·per·ef·fec·tive, adjective
su·per·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverb
su·per·ef·fec·tive·ness, noun
un·ef·fec·tive, adjective
un·ef·fec·tive·ly, adverb
un·ef·fec·tive·ness, noun
Can be confused: affective,
effective (see synonym study at the current entry).
Synonyms
1. capable, competent. Effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient refer to that which is able to produce a (desired) effect. Effective is applied to that which has the power to, or which actually does, produce an effect: an effective action, remedy, speech. Effectual is used especially of that which produces the effect desired or intended, or a decisive result: An effectual bombardment silenced the enemy. Efficacious suggests the capability of achieving a certain end: an efficacious plan, medicine. Efficient (applied also to persons) implies the skillful use of energy or industry to accomplish desired results with little waste of effort: efficient methods; an efficient manager. 2. operative. 3. telling.
Antonyms
1. futile, useless.