Effective vs Efficient
Although the words effective and efficient might appear similar, there is a difference between them. Effective refers to the innate power of something, while efficient relates to the ability of a person or thing. The two terms convey distinct meanings and should not be interchanged.
What does Effective mean?
Originating from late Middle English, effective is used as both an adjective and a noun. According to the Oxford English dictionary, effective means “successful in producing a desired or intended result.” The term implies the inherent power of something, such as advice or a solution, to successfully fulfill its intended purpose. Effective can be used as an adjective to describe nouns like decision, medicine, and advice, and has an adverbial form: effectively.
What does Efficient mean?
Efficient, also originating from late Middle English, means “(Of a system or machine) achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense,” and “(Of a person) working in a well-organized and competent way.” The term suggests the skill or ability of someone or something to work well. Efficient can be used as an adjective to describe nouns like manager, player, singer, and artist, and has an adverbial form: efficiently.
Key Takeaways
- Effective refers to the innate power of something, while efficient relates to the ability of a person or thing.
- Effective is used as both an adjective and a noun, while efficient is only used as an adjective.
- The noun form of effective is efficacy, and the noun form of efficient is efficiency.
