Entry Word: effectiveness

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 the capacity to persuade <the “guilty” verdict was all the proof needed of the effectiveness of the prosecutorʼs closing argument> — see cogency 1
2 the power to produce a desired result <the huge upsurge in sales pretty much demonstrated the effectiveness of the new ad campaign> — see efficacy
3 the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect <your writing lacks effectiveness because practically every sentence is in the passive voice> — see ¹punch 1