What is the difference between efficient and effective?

Efficient means little waste. Effective means it works and gets the result.

Is efficient a good word for business writing?

Yes. It is common in business, academic, and technical writing.

Can I say an efficient person?

Yes. It means the person works quickly and does not waste time.

← Dictionary

efficient

/ɪˈfɪʃ.ənt/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Doing a task well with little time, effort, or waste. An efficient person, system, or machine gets good results quickly and uses resources wisely.

This machine is very efficient.
We need a more efficient way to work.
Her team is efficient under pressure.

Adinary Nuance

Efficient is about getting good results with little waste. It is not the same as effective, which only means something works. It is also different from productive, which focuses on how much gets done, not how neatly or economically it happens.

In other languages

Vietnamese: hiệu quả
Spanish: eficiente
Chinese: 高效
Japanese: 効率的な
Korean: 효율적인

Etymology

Efficient comes from Latin efficientem, meaning 'accomplishing' or 'effective'. It entered English through French in the 15th century.

Common phrases

efficient systemefficient use of timehighly efficientenergy-efficient

Synonyms

effective productive capable

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between efficient and effective?: Efficient means little waste. Effective means it works and gets the result.
Is efficient a good word for business writing?: Yes. It is common in business, academic, and technical writing.
Can I say an efficient person?: Yes. It means the person works quickly and does not waste time.