US /ˌɛfɪˈkeɪʃəs/ UK /ˌɛfɪˈkeɪʃəs/
adj

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    effective in producing a desired result

    The new vaccine proved highly efficacious against the strain.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · effective in producing a... effectiveeffectualpotentsuccessfulproductivepowerful
Word family
Derived forms efficaciouslyefficaciousness
Related forms efficacyefficacityeffect

Etymology

From Latin efficāx (genitive efficācis, 'effective, powerful'), from efficere ('to accomplish'), + the English suffix -ous; from ex- ('out') + facere ('to make').

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