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

The Navy has identified naval mines as one of the most cost-effective and persistent threats to maritime operations, particularly in choke points and near contested coastlines. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 31 Dec. 2025

Because the process needs only a microfluidic setup without any use of a centrifuge, mass manufacturing becomes simpler and more cost-effective, and produces formulations that, once refrigerated, remain stable for four months. —New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2025

Propagating jade plants is an easy and cost-effective way to grow your indoor succulent collection. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2025

Behning believes that having a separate transportation authority would be the most cost-effective way to run this unified system. —Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 26 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cost-effective

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