effect

[ ih-fekt ]

noun

1. something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence:

   Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.

   Synonyms: issue, outcome

2. power to produce results; efficacy; force; influence:

   His protest had no effect.

3. the state of being operative or functional; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment:

   to bring a plan into effect.

4. a mental or emotional impression produced, as by a painting or a speech.
5. meaning or sense; purpose or intention:

   She disapproved of the proposal and wrote to that effect.

6. the making of a desired impression:

   We had the feeling that the big, expensive car was only for effect.

7. an illusory phenomenon:

   a three-dimensional effect.

8. a real phenomenon (usually named for its discoverer):

   the Doppler effect.

9. Usually effects. a special effect, practical effect, or visual effect in a movie, TV show, or other video. : FX

verb (used with object)

1. to produce as an effect; bring about; make happen; accomplish:

   The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring.

   Synonyms: consummate, perform, fulfill, realize, achieve

effect

/ ɪˈfɛkt /

noun

1. something that is produced by a cause or agent; result
2. power or ability to influence or produce a result; efficacy

   with no effect

3. the condition of being operative (esp in the phrases in or into effect )

   the law comes into effect at midnight

4. take effect
   to become operative or begin to produce results
5. basic meaning or purpose (esp in the phrase to that effect )
6. an impression, usually one that is artificial or contrived (esp in the phrase for effect )
7. a scientific phenomenon

   the Doppler effect

8. in effect
   1. in fact; actually
   2. for all practical purposes
9. the overall impression or result

   the effect of a painting

verb

1. tr to cause to occur; bring about; accomplish

Confusables Note

See affect ¹.

Derived Forms

• efˈfecter, noun
• efˈfectible, adjective

Other Words From

• ef·fect·i·ble adjective
• pre·ef·fect noun verb (used with object)
• un·ef·fect·ed adjective
• un·ef·fect·i·ble adjective
• well-ef·fect·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of effect¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin effectus “the carrying out (of a task, etc.),” hence, “accomplishment, outcome,” equivalent to effec- (variant stem of efficere “to make, carry out”; ef- combining form meaning “out, out from, beyond” + -ficere combining form of the verb facere “do, make”) + -tus suffix of verbal action; ef-, do ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of effect¹

C14: from Latin effectus a performing, tendency, from efficere to accomplish, from facere to do

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in effect,
   1. for practical purposes; virtually:

      His silence was in effect a confirmation of the rumor.

   2. essentially; basically.
   3. operating or functioning; in force:

      The plan is now in effect.

2. take effect,
   1. to go into operation; begin to function.
   2. to produce a result:

      The prescribed medicine failed to take effect.

More idioms and phrases containing effect

see in effect ; into effect ; take effect ; to that effect .

Synonym Study

Effect, consequence(s), result refer to something produced by an action or a cause. An effect is that which is produced, usually more or less immediately and directly: The effect of morphine is to produce sleep. A consequence, something that follows naturally or logically, as in a train of events or sequence of time, is less intimately connected with its cause than is an effect: Punishment is the consequence of disobedience. A result may be near or remote, and often is the sum of effects or consequences as making an end or final outcome: The English language is the result of the fusion of many different elements.

Example Sentences

Cold temperatures have essentially the opposite effect, slowing metabolism and movement of herbicides within the plant and rendering them less effective.

From Science Daily

They recently published a paper in Experimental Neurology showing that, in an animal model, PNA5 appears to have a protective effect on brain cells.

From Science Daily

In practice, the effects of raising the minimum wage on inflation and on unemployment are complex and hotly debated.

From Los Angeles Times

The law will have little practical effect, since Los Angeles already draws a line between city officials and immigration enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times

In most cases, people can live their whole lives with no ill effects.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• aftermath
• consequence
• development
• event
• fallout
• issue
• outcome
• ramification
• reaction
• repercussion
• response
• side effect

Effect Vs. Affect

What's the difference between effect and affect?

Effect is most commonly used as a noun meaning a result or consequence. Affect is most commonly used as a verb meaning to act on or produce a change in someone or something.

Remembering the difference between the words can be especially hard because these senses of the words have just about the same pronunciation. Complicating things further is the fact that effect can also be used as a verb (meaning to make happen, as in We can only effect change by taking action) and affect can also be used as a noun (referring to a state of emotion, as in He had a sad affect). However, these senses of the words are much less commonly used.

You can remember that affect is most commonly used as a verb because it begins with a, for action.

You can also remember how effect and affect are most commonly used by using the acronym RAVEN:

R = Remember
A = Affect is
V = Verb
E = Effect is a
N = Noun

Here’s an example of effect and affect used correctly in the same sentence.

Example: It’s unclear what immediate effects the new law will have or how it will affect future generations.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between effect and affect.

Quiz yourself on effect vs. affect!

Should effect or affect be used in the following sentence?

The campaign is hoping that the ads have a big _____ on voter turnout.