cost-effective

adjective

cost-ef·​fec·​tive ˈkȯst-ə-ˈfek-tiv 

-ˌfek-

: producing good results without costing a lot of money

cost-effective measures to combat poverty

Robot spot welding can be quite cost-effective …

—Harry H. Poole

cost-effectiveness noun

Examples of cost-effective in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For Starlink Mobile, SpaceX plans to use a combination of next-generation satellites, cell towers, and its own cost-effective radio transmitters, called femtocells, which could also be installed in people’s homes or businesses. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026

This generation of local brands is able to get a foothold in the market because of proximity and access to cost-effective manufacturing infrastructure that emerging brands in Europe and the US don’t have. — Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026

American strategy toward Europe and East Asia has been a steady and cost-effective success, facilitating great-power peace since 1945. — Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026

So Endurance Energy must demonstrate consistent underwater operations as well as prove the approach can be cost-effective. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cost-effective

• imperfective
• ineffective
• intellective
• introspective
• irrespective
• nondirective
• nonselective
• retrospective
• unreflective
• advective
• affective
• collective