in effect

ef·fect  (-fkt)

n.

1. Something brought about by a cause or agent; a result.

2. The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result; influence: The drug had an immediate effect on the pain. The government's action had no effect on the trade imbalance.

3. A scientific law, hypothesis, or phenomenon: the photovoltaic effect.

4. Advantage; avail: used her words to great effect in influencing the jury.

5. The condition of being in full force or execution: a new regulation that goes into effect tomorrow.

6.

a. Something that produces a specific impression or supports a general design or intention: The lighting effects emphasized the harsh atmosphere of the drama.

b. A particular impression: large windows that gave an effect of spaciousness.

c. Production of a desired impression: spent lavishly on dinner just for effect.

7. The basic or general meaning; import: He said he was greatly worried, or words to that effect.

8. effects Movable belongings; goods.

tr.v. ef·fect·ed, ef·fect·ing, ef·fects

1. To bring into existence.

2. To produce as a result.

3. To bring about. See Usage Note at affect¹.

Idiom:

in effect

In essence; to all purposes: testimony that in effect contradicted her earlier statement.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin effectus, from past participle of efficere, to accomplish : ex-, ex- + facere, to make; see dh- in Indo-European roots.]

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ef·fecter n.

ef·fecti·ble adj.

Synonyms: effect, consequence, result, outcome, upshot, sequel
These nouns denote an occurrence, situation, or condition that is caused by an antecedent. An effect is produced by the action of an agent or a cause and follows it in time: "Every cause produces more than one effect" Herbert Spencer.
A consequence has a less sharply definable relationship to its cause: "Servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt" John P. Curran.
A result is viewed as the end product of the operation of the cause: "Judging from the results I have seen ... I cannot say ... that I agree with you" William H. Mallock.
An outcome more strongly implies finality and may suggest the operation of a cause over a relatively long period: The trial's outcome might have changed if the defendant had testified.
An upshot is a decisive result, often of the nature of a climax: "The upshot of the matter ... was that she showed both of them the door" Robert Louis Stevenson.
A sequel is a consequence that ensues after a lapse of time: "Our dreams are the sequel of our waking knowledge" Ralph Waldo Emerson. See Also Synonyms at perform.

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	in effect - exerting force or influence; "the law is effective immediately"; "a warranty good for two years"; "the law is already in effect (or in force)" in force, effective, good operative - being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system"
Adv.	1.	in effect - in actuality or reality or fact; "she is effectively his wife"; "in effect, they had no choice" effectively