effective Meaning & Definition
What Does Effective Mean?
Effective is used as an adjective meaning Having the power to produce a required effect or effects. It can also mean Producing a decided or decisive effect. As a noun, it means a soldier fit for duty.
Effective at a Glance
| Part of speech | adjective, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ɪˈfɛktɪv// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | good, impressive and competent |
| Antonyms | ineffectual, ineffective and uneffective |
| Plural | effectives |
| Comparative / superlative | more effective, most effective |
Effective Definition (Adjective)
- Having the power to produce a required effect or effects.
The pill is an effective method of birth control.
- Producing a decided or decisive effect.
The president delivered an effective speech!
- Efficient, serviceable, or operative, available for useful work.
How long does it take to make a bunch of civilians an effective military force?
- Actually in effect.
effective immediately
- Having no negative coefficients.
- Such that no group element acts trivially.
- approximate; Not describing the fundamental dynamic changes in some system as they happen.
Effective as a Noun
- a soldier fit for duty
Adjective
- (of a cycle or divisor) Having no negative coefficients.
- (for any effective theory) approximate; Not describing the fundamental dynamic changes in some system as they happen.
Synonyms of Effective
Antonyms of Effective
Effective in a Sentence
The pill is an effective method of birth control.
The president delivered an effective speech!
How long does it take to make a bunch of civilians an effective military force?
My effective income after taxes and child support is $500 a month.
The effective radiated power is determined by multiplying the transmitter power output with the antenna gain.
The effective voltage of an alternating current is 0.7 times its peak voltage.
effective immediately
The curfew is effective at midnight.
Word Forms & Grammar
effective (comparative more effective, superlative most effective)
effective (plural effectives)
Words That Rhyme With Effective
Origin of Effective
From French effectif, from Latin effectīvus (“productive; effective”), from efficiō (“to make; to bring about”), equivalent to effect + -ive.
How Do You Say Effective?
Effective is pronounced //ɪˈfɛktɪv// and has 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Effective
Is effective an adjective or a noun?
Effective is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for effective?
Close synonyms of effective are good, impressive and competent. See the full list of effective synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of effective?
Antonyms of effective include ineffectual, ineffective and uneffective.
What is the plural of effective?
The plural of effective is effectives.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of effective?
The comparative form is more effective and the superlative form is most effective.