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Definition of effectiveness

effectiveness

/ɪˈfɛk.tɪv.nəs/
ef · fec · tive · ness
Adverb:effectively
•
Adjective:effective
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effectiveness Lexical Profile

effectiveness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The degree to which something is successful in producing a desired result; success.

Example

"The clinical study evaluated the long-term effectiveness of the new treatment in everyday medical settings."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for effectiveness
Antonyms
View all antonyms for effectiveness

Word Nuance & Usage

'Effectiveness' is often contrasted with 'efficiency' and 'efficacy': 'effectiveness' measures whether an action achieves its intended goal in real-world practice, 'efficiency' measures how well resources (such as time or money) are used in the process, and 'efficacy' typically refers to performance under ideal or controlled scientific conditions.

• Rhymes for effectiveness

• Nearby Words

effect
effective
effectively
effectiveness
effects
effeminate
effervesce

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in English from the adjective 'effective' plus the suffix '-ness', ultimately tracing back to Latin 'effectivus' (productive or effectual), from 'efficere' meaning 'to accomplish or work out'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Effectiveness. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/effectiveness
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