effective
If a law or rule becomes effective, it starts to be used
The new laws will become effective next month.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
effective
ef‧fec‧tive S2 W1 /ɪˈfektɪv/ adjective
[Word Family: noun: effect, effectiveness ≠ ineffectiveness; adjective: effective ≠ ineffective, effectual ≠ ineffectual; verb: effect; adverb: effectively ≠ ineffectively]
1. successful, and working in the way that was intended OPP ineffective:
The cheaper drugs are just as effective in treating arthritis.
the painting’s highly effective use of colour
Training is often much less effective than expected.
the most effective ways of reducing inner city congestion
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that something works (well), rather than say that it is effective:
▪ The cheaper drugs work just as well.
2. [no comparative, not before noun] if a law, agreement, or system becomes effective, it officially starts
effective from
The cut in interest rates is effective from Monday.
3. [no comparative, only before noun] real rather than what is officially intended or generally believed:
The rebels are in effective control of the city.
—effectiveness noun [uncountable]
• • •
| COLLOCATIONS |
| adverbs |
▪ extremely/highly effective The company launched a highly effective advertising campaign.
| nouns |
▪ an effective way What’s the most effective way to control crime?
▪ an effective method Exams are not the most effective method of assessing students’ abilities.
▪ an effective means Is reducing the speed limit an effective means of reducing accidents?
▪ effective action The police must take effective action to protect the public.
▪ an effective solution The most effective solution to traffic congestion is to build more roads.
▪ an effective treatment Antibiotics are still the most effective treatment for this disease.
▪ an effective system The country has a simple but effective welfare system.
• • •
| THESAURUS |
▪ successful achieving what you wanted, or having the effect or result you intended: He applied for a visa three times and in the end he was successful. | The treatment was successful. | It was a highly successful campaign.
▪ effective having the effect or result that was wanted - used especially about treatments, drugs, or methods: The drug is effective against a range of diseases. | We still haven't found an effective way to solve the problem.
▪ victorious successful as a result of winning in a game, election, war etc: the captain of the victorious team | She emerged victorious in the second round of voting.
▪ promising likely to be very successful in the future, used especially about someone who is good at a job, sport, art etc: a promising young athlete | He gave up a promising career in banking.
▪ thriving very successful – used about a company, industry, or organization that is doing well at a particular time: The area has a thriving tourist industry. | The school is thriving academically.
▪ booming extremely successful – used about an economy, or when business or trade is increasing: the booming economy in China | Business is booming.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
effective
ef·fect·ive [ɪˈfektɪv] [ɪˈfektɪv] adjective
1. producing the result that is wanted or intended; producing a successful result
• Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders.
• Aspirin is a simple but highly effective treatment.
• drugs that are effective against cancer
• Some people believe that violence is an effective way of protesting.
• I admire the effective use of colour in her paintings.
Opp: ineffective
see also cost-effective
2. only before noun in reality, although not officially intended
• the effective, if not the actual, leader of the party
• In spite of what they are told, parents have no effective choice of schools.
• He has now taken effective control of the country.
3. (formal) (of laws and rules) coming into use
• The new speed limit on this road becomes effective from 1 June.
Derived Word: effectiveness
See also: effectivity
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin effectivus, from efficere ‘accomplish’, from ex- ‘out, thoroughly’ + facere ‘do, make’.
Thesaurus:
effective [effective effectiveness] adj.
• a simple but highly effective treatment
successful • • powerful •
Opp: ineffective
effective/successful/powerful in sth
effective/successful/powerful in doing sth
an effective/successful/powerful campaign/challenge
Example Bank:
• The drug is generally effective in reducing pain.
• This method is effective enough with greenfly.
• We find advertising on the radio very effective.
• What makes a TV programme politically effective?
• a highly effective technique
• directly effective treaty provisions
• effective at keeping out the wind
• effective in helping people to stop smoking
• He argued that long prison sentences could be a very effective deterrent for offenders.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
effective / ɪfek.tɪv / adjective (IN USE)
If a law or rule becomes effective, it starts to be used:
The new laws will become effective next month.
effectiveness / -nəs / noun [ U ]
C1
There are doubts about the effectiveness of the new drug (= how successful it is) in treating the disease.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
effective
[ɪfe̱ktɪv]
♦♦
1) ADJ-GRADED: oft ADJ in -ing, ADJ against n Something that is effective works well and produces the results that were intended.
The project looks at how we could be more effective in encouraging students to enter teacher training...
Simple antibiotics are effective against this organism...
Such conditions would make an effective public transport system possible.
Derived words:
effectively ADV-GRADED usu ADV after v, also ADV -ed ...the team roles which you believe to be necessary for the team to function effectively... Services need to be more effectively organised than they are at present.
effectiveness N-UNCOUNT oft N of n ...the effectiveness of computers as an educational tool.
2) ADJ: ADJ n 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.
...a restructuring that would have resulted in an effective increase on one of their most popular excursion fares.
Syn:
actual
3) ADJ: v-link ADJ When something such as a law or an agreement becomes effective, it begins officially to apply or be valid.
The new rules will become effective in the next few days.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
effective
ef·fec·tive /ɪˈfɛktɪv/ adj
1 [more ~; most ~] : producing a result that is wanted : having an intended effect
• drugs effective in the treatment of a disease = drugs effective in treating a disease = drugs effective against a disease
• It's a simple but effective technique.
• He gave an effective speech.
- opposite ineffective
2 of a law, rule, etc. : in use : active
• The law becomes effective [=the law takes effect; the law will start to be used] next year.
• the effective date of the law [=the day when the law starts to be used]
3 : starting at a particular time - used to introduce a clause
• Effective [=starting, as of] tomorrow, the store will be open until 8:00 p.m. every day.
• Effective next month, the landfill will no longer accept old televisions.
4 always used before a noun
- used to describe something that exists or has an effect but that is not officially stated or recognized
• the effective tax rate
• The army has taken effective control of the city.
- ef·fec·tive·ness noun [noncount]
• The effectiveness of the drug was questioned.
