adjective
cost effective
kost ih-FEK-tiv
Cost effective (adjective) means producing good results for the money spent, so that the benefit gained justifies the cost. Example: “Insulating the loft is the most cost effective way to cut the bills.”
adjective
1
Producing good results for the money spent, so that the benefit gained justifies the cost.
"Insulating the loft is the most cost effective way to cut the bills."
"Screening everyone over fifty proved cost effective within four years."
How to use cost effective
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWorth what it costs.
When to use it
Neutral. Standard in business, healthcare policy and public-sector evaluation.
Memory tip
The noun form is cost effectiveness, one of the standard measures used in health economics.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
highly cost effective
the most cost effective option
cost-effective solution
cost effectiveness
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Insulating the loft is the most _____ way to cut the bills.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for cost effective
See all rhymes for cost effective →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cost effective and cheap?
Cheap refers only to a low price, while cost effective weighs the price against what you get for it. An expensive machine that lasts twenty years can be cost effective, and a cheap one that fails in a year is not.
Is it cost effective or cost-effective?
Hyphenate it before a noun — a cost-effective solution — and leave it open after the verb, as in 'the solution is cost effective'. Many style guides hyphenate it in both positions, and that is also acceptable.
What is the difference between cost effective and cost efficient?
Cost effective asks whether the outcome is worth the spend, while cost efficient asks whether the same output could be produced for less. A programme can be cost efficient in how it runs and still not be cost effective if the outcome has little value.
What is the meaning of cost effective?
"cost effective" (adjective) means producing good results for the money spent, so that the benefit gained justifies the cost.
