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 risk of extreme heat is expected to grow in the coming decades, and studies have found trees are among the most cost-effective ways to keep the city cool. — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 2026

This finding points to texts being a more cost-effective method, given that texts produced the same coverage impacts, but cost far less (9 cents versus 38 cents per contact). — Rebecca Myerson, STAT, 10 Aug. 2026

The cheapest version, available in Ukraine for as little as $150, offers frontline units a cost-effective way to add AI targeting capabilities to their drones. — David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

RESCs are regulated public entities created by Connecticut law to provide quality, cost-effective education resources and services to public schools. — Leonard Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 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