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

Canopy said leaving those forests untouched is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce carbon emissions and support the global 30 by 30 biodiversity target, which aims to protect 30 percent of the world’s land and waters by 2030. —Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 1 June 2026

Transport must be improved so fishermen have a cost-effective way to export their catch. —Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 31 May 2026

This cost-effective method can also result in more resilient plants because gardeners can choose to propagate the strongest ones. —Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 31 May 2026

That's why a strategic, cost-effective approach is essential to stay competitive — and why many employers turn to platforms like ZipRecruiter to connect with qualified candidates faster. —Audrey Payne, CNBC, 29 May 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