effective

noun

(military) a soldier fit for duty

adjective

Having the power to produce a required effect or effects.

Producing a decided or decisive effect.

Efficient, serviceable, or operative, available for useful work.

Actually in effect.

(physics, for any effective theory) approximate; Not describing the fundamental dynamic changes in some system as they happen.

(geometry, of a cycle or divisor) Having no negative coefficients.

(algebra, of a group action) Such that no group element acts trivially.

Roots

faciofect- · Latin · make, do

Synonyms for effective

efficaciousadj effectualadj efficientadj usefuladj potentadj practicableadj serviceableadj practicaladj competentadj powerfuladj workableadj productiveadj feasibleadj armipotentadj

Synonyms & related words for effective

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of effective — including efficacious, effectual, efficient, useful, potent, practicable. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to effective

Explore words related to effective — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include effectivity, effectualness, effectuate, effectuality, effectiveness, efficaciousness, inefficacious, noneffective. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for effective

Common synonyms for effective include efficacious, effectual, efficient, useful, potent, practicable, serviceable, practical — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does effective come from?

The word effective breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root fect-, from Latin facio (“make, do”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.