WordValeefficacy
the ability of a treatment to produce the intended result
In more detail
the ability to produce the desired or intended result; effectiveness
Examples
- The efficacy of the new vaccine has been proven through extensive clinical trials.
How to use efficacy
Efficacy is a formal word used to describe how well something achieves its intended purpose, particularly in medical, scientific, or professional contexts. It differs from efficiency in that efficacy focuses on the quality of results rather than the use of resources. The term often appears in discussions of treatments, medicines, and interventions.
Common phrases
- proven efficacy
- demonstrate efficacy
- clinical efficacy
- therapeutic efficacy
- efficacy of the drug
- question the efficacy
Synonyms
effectiveness · efficiency · potency · efficaciousness · power
Opposites
inefficacy · ineffectiveness · futility
Word family
efficacious (adjective) · efficaciously (adverb) · inefficacy (noun) · inefficacious (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse efficacy with efficiency; efficacy is about producing the right result, while efficiency is about doing so with minimal waste or effort.
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