Word
effectiveness
Phoneticsef·fec·tive·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈifɛktɪvnəs/
UK/ɪfˈɛktɪvnəs/
Definitions
01producing results
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. how well something works to get the result you planned.
n. the quality of being successful in producing a desired or intended result. Uncountable in its general sense, though countable when referring to specific instances or measures.
“The doctors are still testing the effectiveness of the new drug.”
“The study aims to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the government's new environmental policies on urban air quality.”
Pitfall
The efficiency of the medicine was high.
The effectiveness of the medicine was high.
Efficiency means doing something without wasting time or energy; effectiveness means getting the actual result you wanted.
02military/legal force
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. the state of being in operation or having power.
n. the state of being in effect or having the power to produce a required outcome, particularly regarding legal or military force.
“The law will reach full effectiveness starting next January.”
“The treaty's effectiveness was compromised by the lack of a clear enforcement mechanism for member states that failed to comply.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “effectiveness” in context.
Verb
01. enhance effectiveness
“New software updates were released to enhance the effectiveness of the security system.”
verb + noun
02. evaluate effectiveness
“The committee will meet next month to evaluate the effectiveness of the new policy.”
verb + noun
03. improve effectiveness
“Managers are looking for ways to improve the effectiveness of team communication.”
verb + noun
04. increase effectiveness
“Adding more resources to the project will likely increase its overall effectiveness.”
verb + noun
05. reduce effectiveness
“Poor maintenance can significantly reduce the effectiveness of industrial machinery.”
verb + noun
Noun
06. effectiveness outweigh
“The treatment's effectiveness outweighs the potential side effects for most patients.”
noun + verb
Real-World Examples
“While she doubts the effectiveness of the Allegra-Pepcid combination, she says it’s “understandable that people turn to things that they can get easily, quickly and less expensively”.” “That air movement improves the effectiveness of your sweating, he says, which is caused by your body naturally trying to cool itself down.” Etymology
From effective + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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