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

While beach vacations can offer unique ocean experiences and vibrant social scenes, lakeside locations often provide a more cost-effective way to enjoy family-friendly fun and relaxation within a set budget. —Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

The two companies aim to deliver an initial drone that is cost-effective and comes with multiple launch options, such as air drop, ground launch, maritime launch, and launch from a wide-body logistics aircraft. —Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025

Today on the show, the cost-effective plan to maximize biodiversity that asks ecologists to approach the question more like economists. —Darian Woods, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025

Pizza Hut isn’t the only fast food chain that’s rolling out new cost-effective deals. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 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