effective

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɪˈfɛktɪv/ See IPA manual

adj Freq #4069

Meanings

1

adj
Working well and producing the result you want.

The pill is an effective method of birth control.
2

adj
Officially in operation; starting to apply.

The new rules are effective immediately.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · working well and producing... efficacious effectual

2 adj · officially in operation;... in effectin force

Word family

Derived forms bioeffectivecoeffectivecost-effectiveeffectivateeffectively effectivenesseffectivizationeffectivizeeffieequieffectivegeoeffectiveineffective

Related forms effect effectivity effectual efficacious efficacity efficacy efficiency efficientpseudoeffective

Etymology

From French effectif, from Latin effectīvus (“productive; effective”), from efficiō (“to make; to bring about”), equivalent to effect + -ive.

*dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European effectif French effectīvus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

# effective

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ɪˈfɛktɪv
**Frequency rank:** 4069

## Meanings
1. Working well and producing the result you want.
2. Officially in operation; starting to apply.

## Examples
- The pill is an effective method of birth control.
- The new rules are effective immediately.

## Derived Forms
- bioeffective
- coeffective
- cost-effective
- effectivate
- effectively
- effectiveness
- effectivization
- effectivize
- effie
- equieffective
- geoeffective
- ineffective

## Related Forms
- effect
- effectivity
- effectual
- efficacious
- efficacity
- efficacy
- efficiency
- efficient
- pseudoeffective

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *dʰeh₁-
- Root: effectif
- Root: effectīvus

## Etymology
From French effectif, from Latin effectīvus (“productive; effective”), from efficiō (“to make; to bring about”), equivalent to effect + -ive.

## AI Etymology
Effective comes from French effectif, from Latin effectīvus (“productive; effective”), from efficiō (“to make; to bring about”), equivalent to effect + -ive. In current use, the main senses are “Working well and producing the result you want” and “Officially in operation; starting to apply”.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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effective

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