Dictionary Definition
effective adj
1 producing or capable of producing an intended
result or having a striking effect; "an air-cooled motor was more
effective than a witch's broomstick for rapid long-distance
transportation"-LewisMumford; "effective teaching methods";
"effective steps toward peace"; "made an effective entrance"; "his
complaint proved to be effectual in bringing action"; "an
efficacious law" [syn: effectual, efficacious] [ant: ineffective]
2 able to accomplish a purpose; functioning
effectively; "people who will do nothing unless they get something
out of it for themselves are often highly effective
persons..."-G.B.Shaw; "effective personnel"; "an efficient
secretary"; "the efficient cause of the revolution" [syn: efficient]
3 works well as a means or remedy; "an effective
reprimand"; "a lotion that is effective in cases of prickly
heat"
4 exerting force or influence; "the law is
effective immediately"; "a warranty good for two years"; "the law
is already in effect (or in force)" [syn: good, in
effect(p), in
force(p)]
5 existing in fact; not theoretical; real; "a
decline in the effective demand"; "confused increased equipment and
expenditure with the quantity of effective work done"
6 equipped and ready for service; "the fort was
held by about 100 effective soldiers"
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
Adjective
Translations
having the power to produce an effect or effects
- Dutch: efficiënt
- French: efficace
- German: wirksam
- Hungarian: hatásos, hatékony
producing a decided or decisive effect
- French: efficace
- German: wirksam
- Greek: αποτελεσματικός
- Hungarian: eredményes, célravezető
efficient, serviceable, or operative
- German: effektiv, wirkungsvoll
actually in effect
- French: en vigueur
- German: wirksam, in Kraft
- ttbc Portuguese: efectivo
Extensive Definition
Effectiveness means the capability of producing
an effect.
In Physics, an
effective theory is, similar to a phenomenological
theory, a framework intended to explain certain (observed) effects
without the claim that the theory correctly models the underlying
(unobserved) processes. An example is an effective
field theory that "pretends" that certain effects are caused by
a field
even if it is known that this is not actually the case. In a way,
any theory of Physics is fundamentally an effective theory, since
there is no meaningful distinction of observables and reality within the scope of
Physics (see also
FAPP, cogito ergo
sum, Phenomenalism,
Pragmatism).
The word effective is sometimes used in a
quantitative way, "being very or not much effective". However it
does not inform on the direction (positive or negative) and the
comparison to a standard of the given effect. Efficacy, on the
other hand, is the ability to produce a desired amount of the
desired effect, or success in achieving a given goal. Contrary to
efficiency, the focus
of efficacy is the achievement as such, not the resources spent in
achieving the desired effect. Therefore, what is effective is not
necessarily efficacious, and what is efficacious is not necessarily
efficient.
An ordinary way to distinguish among
effectiveness, efficacy, and efficiency:
- efficiency: doing things "right", i.e. in the best and most economical way
- efficacy: getting things done, i.e. meeting immediate targets
- effectiveness: doing "right" things, i.e. setting right targets to achieve an overall goal (the effect)
- (effectivity: mostly synonym to effectiveness; usage is rather rare)
See also
For the medical meaning of 'effectiveness', see
discussion at efficacy.
effective in Czech: Efektivita
effective in German: Effektivität
effective in Lithuanian: Veiksmingumas
effective in Portuguese: Efetividade
effective in Thai: ประสิทธิภาพ
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
able,
acid, active, actual, adequate, armipotent, authoritative, banausic, basic, biting, capable, charismatic, charming, cogent, compelling, competent, consequential, conspicuous, convincing, corrosive, cutting, direct, driving, dynamic, effectual, efficacious, efficient, enchanting, energetic, equal to, essential, estimable, feasible, forceful, forcible, functional, functioning, go, gutsy, high-potency, high-powered,
high-pressure, high-tension, imperative, important, impressive, in force, in
operation, in power, incisive, influential, irresistible, magnetic, mighty, mighty in battle,
momentous, mordant, moving, nervous, noticeable, operable, operational, operative, outstanding, penetrating, personable, persuasive, piercing, poignant, potent, powerful, practicable, practical, pragmatic, prepotent, prestigious, productive, proficient, puissant, punchy, real, realizable, remarkable, reputable, ruling, sensational, serviceable, sinewed, sinewy, slashing, sound, striking, strong, suasive, substantial, telling, trenchant, true, up to, useful, valid, vigorous, virtuous, vital, weighty, winning, workable