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

Thankfully, the Dark Sky movement is growing as more people become aware of the issue and learn about simple and cost-effective ways that can be embraced to reverse the course of destroying our night skies. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026

At many nurseries, this is a great time to find cost-effective bare-root plants as well as fruit trees and roses. —Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026

Kennedy’s comments come as Medicaid home-care programs — which have long garnered bipartisan support as a cost-effective alternative to nursing homes and other institutions — face growing scrutiny from conservative policymakers and activists who have framed them as magnets for fraud and waste. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026

The test signals a shift toward scalable and cost-effective tactical drone capabilities. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026

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