If someone or something is effective, they do something well and produce the results that were intended.
If someone or something is efficient, they do a job well and successfully, without wasting time or energy.
Be Careful!
Effective and efficient are often confused, but they have slightly different meanings. If you are effective, you do a job properly; if you are efficient, you do it quickly and easily.
| Adj. | 1. | effective - 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" efficacious - marked by qualities giving the power to produce an intended effect; "written propaganda is less efficacious than the habits and prejudices...of the readers"-Aldous Huxley; "the medicine is efficacious in stopping a cough" efficient - being effective without wasting time or effort or expense; "an efficient production manager"; "efficient engines save gas" potent, stiff, strong - having a strong physiological or chemical effect; "a potent toxin"; "potent liquor"; "a potent cup of tea", "a stiff drink" powerful - having great power or force or potency or effect; "the most powerful government in western Europe"; "his powerful arms"; "a powerful bomb"; "the horse's powerful kick"; "powerful drugs"; "a powerful argument" useful, utile - being of use or service; "the girl felt motherly and useful"; "a useful job"; "a useful member of society" ineffective, ineffectual, uneffective - not producing an intended effect; "an ineffective teacher"; "ineffective legislation" |
| 2. | effective - 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" competent - properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient; "a competent typist" | |
| 3. | effective - works well as a means or remedy; "an effective reprimand"; "a lotion that is effective in cases of prickly heat" efficacious - marked by qualities giving the power to produce an intended effect; "written propaganda is less efficacious than the habits and prejudices...of the readers"-Aldous Huxley; "the medicine is efficacious in stopping a cough" | |
| 4. | effective - exerting force or influence; "the law is effective immediately"; "a warranty good for two years"; "the law is already in effect (or in force)" operative - being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system" | |
| 5. | effective - 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. | effective - ready for service; "the fort was held by about 100 effective soldiers" armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker" operational - (military) of or intended for or involved in military operations |