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- Dictionaryeffective/ɪˈfɛktɪv/
adjective
- 1. successful in producing a desired or intended result: "effective solutions to environmental problems" Similar Opposite
- 2. existing in fact, though not formally acknowledged as such: "she has been under effective house arrest since September" Similar Opposite
noun
- 1. a soldier fit and available for service: "when the battles broke out, he had a total of 920 effectives"
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EFFECTIVE definition: 1. successful or achieving the results that you want: 2. (used about a treatment or drug) working…. Learn more.
The meaning of EFFECTIVE is producing a decided, decisive, or desired effect. How to use effective in a sentence. Comparing Efficient, Effective, and Proficient Synonym Discussion of Effective.
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. When something such as a law or an agreement becomes effective, it begins officially to apply or be valid.
producing the result that is wanted or intended; producing a successful result. Aspirin is a simple but highly effective treatment. Some people believe that violence is an effective way of protesting. I admire the effective use of colour in her paintings. The system has proved less effective than hoped.
The adjective effective has many shades of meaning, but you'll usually see it describing something that's able to produce a desired goal. Effective traces back to the Latin word effectivus , from efficere , meaning “work out, accomplish,” and that meaning still holds true.
Definition of effective adjective in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
There are 17 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word effective, five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
EFFECTIVE definition: 1. successful or achieving the result that you want: 2. If changes, laws, etc become effective…. Learn more.
Something that is effective works well and produces the results that were intended. [...] 2. Effective means having a particular role or result in practice, though not officially or in theory. [...] 3. When something such as a law or an agreement becomes effective, it begins officially to apply or be valid. [...]
1. adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result: effective teaching methods. 2. in operation or in force; functioning; operative: The law becomes effective at midnight. 3. producing a deep or vivid impression; striking: an effective photograph. 4. prepared and available for service, esp. military service. n.
