in effect

phrase

: in substance : virtually

… the … committee agreed to what was in effect a reduction in the hourly wage.

—Current Biography

Examples of in effect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And the Starshield throttling — which apparently is still in effect — has doubtless reinforced the nation's desire to control its own satellite-communications infrastructure. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Some of those consent decrees have remained in effect for decades, dating back to the 1960s and 1970s. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

The development ends the abolition of the death penalty, which had been in effect since 2018 under the previous and democratically elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Russia says Ukraine deliberately blocks supplies and evacuations; Kyiv counters that Moscow is in effect holding civilians hostage. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for in effect

• architect
• circumspect
• deselect
• dialect
• disconnect
• disinfect
• disrespect
• incorrect
• indirect
• intellect
• interject
• intersect