effective

You might be confusing the word effective with affective. These words are commonly misused.

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ɪˈfɛktɪv/ or /əˈfɛktɪv/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ef‧fec‧tive

Adjective

Positive effective

Comparative more effective

Superlative most effective

1. An effective strategy, treatment, method, etc is one that works well as planned.
   • Synonyms: useful, successful and helpful
   • Antonym: ineffective

   Teachers are using instructional strategies that are most effective in helping students learn.

2. If you have effective command, consent, control, etc., you have it in practice but not officially.
   • Synonyms: practical, unofficial and implied

   The students had effective control over what the teacher would include on the test.

3. If a law, agreement, change, etc. becomes effective, it officially begins.

   The new rules about ball size are effective next season.

Usage notes

• This word is commonly confused with affective, which is a rare technical word about emotions.

Related words

• effect
• effectiveness
• ineffective

Preposition

Preposition effective

1. You use effective to tell when something starts officially.
   • Synonym: as of

   Effective next week, all employees will wear the new uniform.