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Optimum vs Effective - What's the difference?

optimum | effective |

As nouns the difference between optimum and effective

is that optimum is the best or most favorable condition, or the greatest amount or degree possible under specific sets of comparable circumstances while effective is a soldier fit for duty.

As adjectives the difference between optimum and effective

is that optimum is best or most advantageous; surpassing all others while effective is having the power to produce a required effect or effects.

optimum

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • The best or most favorable condition, or the greatest amount or degree possible under specific sets of comparable circumstances.

    • Related terms

    * optimal * optimise, optimize * optimism * optimist * optimistic

    Derived terms

    * global optimum * local optimum

    Adjective

    (head)
  • best or most advantageous; surpassing all others

    • External links

    * * * ----

    effective

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having the power to produce a required effect or effects.
    • The pill is an effective method of birth control.
  • Producing a decided or decisive effect.
    • The president delivered an effective speech!
  • * Jeremy Taylor
    • Whosoever is an effective , real cause of doing his neighbour wrong, is criminal.
  • Efficient, serviceable, or operative, available for useful work.
    • How long does it take to make a bunch of civilians an effective military force?
    My effective income after taxes and child support is $500 a month.
    The effective radiated power is determined by multiplying the transmitter power output with the antenna gain.
    The effective voltage of an alternating current is 0.7 times its peak voltage.
  • Actually in effect.
    • The curfew is effective at midnight.
  • Having no negative coefficients.

    • Related terms

    * effect * effectivity * effectual * efficacious * efficacity * efficacy * efficiency * efficient

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (military) A soldier fit for duty.
  • *1876 , , Recollections of the Elkhorn Campaign :
  • *:The Army of the West reached Corinth sometime after the battle of Shiloh. We were 15,000 effectives , and brought Beauregard's effective force up to 45,000 men.
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