effect

noun

ef·​fect i-ˈfekt 

e-, 

ē-, 

ə-

plural effects

1

: something that inevitably follows an antecedent (such as a cause or agent) : result, outcome

the environmental effects of the policy

the health effects of exercise

a cumulative effect

a cause and effect relationship

suffered no ill effects from the treatment

My comment had the effect of ending the conversation.

The pitcher used her slider to good/great effect. [=with a good/great result]

They've complained many times, to little/no effect.

By the turn of the century, the adverse effects of using arsenic tint were widely exposed, … and the practice (thankfully) grew out of fashion.

—Whitney Robinson

2

a

: a distinctive impression

The color gives the effect of warmth.

The moon's low placement in the sky could also cause the orb to appear bigger than usual, according to NASA, due to an effect dubbed the moon illusion.

—Taylor Nicioli

b

: the creation of a desired impression

He paused for dramatic effect before making the big announcement.

Reynaldo revved the engine for effect, which made his father laugh.

—Nell Salzman

c

: something designed to produce a distinctive or desired impression: such as

(1)

: something that alters an artistic work in order to enhance the illusion of reality or heighten dramatic appeal

—usually used in plural

the play's use of lighting effects

We're grateful that the movie doesn't try … to inflate its simple narrative with grandiose action-movie effects.

—Terrence Rafferty

see also sound effects, special effects

(2)

: something that alters a sung, played, or recorded sound in order to produce a desired quality

—usually used in plural

[Les] Paul is also credited with helping pioneer several recording techniques, including delay effects … and overdubbing.

—Troy Smith

As you arrange your samples, you can add effects like reverb, raise or lower the tempo or even run the sample backward.

—N'gai Croal and Walaika Haskins

3

: the quality or state of being operative : operation

The parking ban is no longer in effect.

… the … city council passed an ordinance in June of last year, going into effect in October.

—Killian Baarlaer

No coastal warnings or watches were put into effect.

—Associated Press

The Government intends to pass legislation giving effect to the reforms …

—Thomas Coughlan

see also take effect

4

: power to bring about a result : influence

The content itself of television … is therefore less important than its effect …

—Current Biography

see also take effect

5

effects plural : movable property : goods

household effects

see also personal effects

6

: an outward sign : appearance

… his sufferings, instead of exciting their compassion, have been celebrated as the visible effects of divine justice.

—Edward Gibbon

7

: a goal or purpose : end

Before the bond issue can move ahead, City Council must approve the cooperation agreement. Legislation to that effect was introduced this week.

—Mark Belko

I desire simply to be quit of you; and to that effect, I put a boat and complement of men at your disposal.

—Robert Louis Stevenson

Is all our travail turn'd to this effect?

—Shakespeare

see also:

in effect to the effect auger effect bandwagon effect bohr effect butterfly effect coriolis effect domino effect doppler effect edge effect founder effect greenhouse effect hall effect halo effect hawthorne effect lake effect nocebo effect photoelectric effect placebo effect position effect ripple effect side effect zeeman effect

Synonyms of effect

• outcome
• result
• resultant
• consequence
• product

Examples of effect in a Sentence

The nation's most solvent individuals—private-equity barons—have not been immune from the ill effects of the credit crunch. —Daniel Gross, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2008

In the Spanish conquest of the Incas, guns played only a minor role.  … They did produce a big psychological effect on those occasions when they managed to fire. —Jared M. Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel, 1997

Economic effects of such high speed change are also unpredictable and somewhat chilling … —Genevieve Stuttaford, Publisher's Weekly, 29 July 1996

Unlike the venom of coral snakes, fer-de-lance venom has no direct effect on the nervous system but digests muscle, destroys blood cells and causes hemorrhaging and massive edema (swelling). —Robert K. Colwell, Natural History, April 1985

He now needs more of the drug to achieve the same effect.

The experience has had a bad effect on him.

Computers have had a profound effect on our lives.

The effects of the drug soon wore off.

This treatment causes fewer ill effects.

The change in policy had little effect on most people.

He was able to stop taking the drug without ill effect.

The total effect of the painting was one of gloom.

The color gives the effect of being warm.

He achieves amazing effects with wood.

Recent Examples on the Web

Your cancellation goes into effect at the end of your current subscription period. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 June 2026

The exemption will take effect from ​April 1, 2026, ​as per the government’s release. —Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 June 2026

But what hasn’t been appreciated is AI’s effect on patience. —Christian B. Miller, The Conversation, 4 June 2026

Although lawmakers passed a bill in 2025 to address these costs, the law has not taken effect, leaving libraries to continue operating under what many describe as unsustainable pricing systems, library directors across the state said. —Julia Casola, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English effect, effete "achievement, result, capacity to produce a result, gist, purpose," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French effette, effect, borrowed from Latin effectus "carrying out (of a purpose or task), result, mode of operation," from effec-, variant stem of efficere "to make, construct, bring about, produce, carry out" (from ef-, assimilated form of ex- ex- entry 1 + facere "to do, make, bring about") + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at fact

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing effect

• Auger effect
• bandwagon effect
• Bohr effect
• butterfly effect
• Coriolis effect
• cumulative effect
• domino effect
• Doppler effect
• Dunning-Kruger effect
• edge effect
• field-effect transistor
• founder effect
• goes into effect
• greenhouse effect
• ground-effect machine
• Hall effect
• halo effect
• Hawthorne effect
• knock-on effect
• lake effect
• Mandela effect
• nocebo effect
• photoelectric effect
• placebo effect
• position effect
• ripple effect
• side effect
• snowball effect
• special effect
• take effect
• the greenhouse effect
• to the effect
• to the effect that
• white coat effect
• Zeeman effect

Rhymes for effect

• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• detect
• direct
• dissect
• eject

Video

How to Remember 'Affect' and 'Effect'

A simple way to keep them apart. (Most of the time.)

Kids Definition

effect

1 of 2 noun

ef·​fect i-ˈfekt 

1

: an event, condition, or state of affairs that is produced by a cause

2

: influence entry 1 sense 1

the effect of climate on growth

3

plural : personal property or possessions

household effects

4

: the act of making a particular impression

talked merely for effect

5

: execution sense 1, operation

the law went into effect today

effect

2 of 2 verb

: bring about, accomplish

effect a change

effecter noun

Medical Definition

effect

noun

ef·​fect i-ˈfekt 

: something that is produced by an agent or cause

obtained the same effect with a smaller dose

Legal Definition

effect

1 of 2 noun

ef·​fect

1

: something that is produced by an agent or cause

2

plural : personal property sense 1 at property : goods

the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures

—U.S. Constitution amend. IV

3

: the quality or state of being operative

when the new law goes into effect

effect

2 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to cause to come into being

2

: to bring about often by surmounting obstacles

effect a settlement of the dispute

3

: to put into operation

the duty of the legislature to effect the will of the citizens