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. | efficient - being effective without wasting time or effort or expense; "an efficient production manager"; "efficient engines save gas" competent - properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient; "a competent typist" effective, effectual, efficacious - 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"an efficacious law" inefficient - not producing desired results; wasteful; "an inefficient campaign against drugs"; "outdated and inefficient design and methods" |
2. | efficient - 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" |