efficient

/i-ˈfi-shənt/

Middle English, "active, immediate (of a cause)," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin efficient-, efficiens "producing or giving rise to something, immediate (of a cause), active," from present participle of efficere "to make, bring about, produce, carry out"

adjective

  1. productive of desired effects; especially : capable of producing desired results with little or no waste (as of time or materials)

  2. being or involving the immediate agent in producing an effect

effective effectual efficient efficacious mean producing or capable of producing a result. effective stresses the actual production of or the power to produce an effect. effectual suggests the accomplishment of a desired result especially as viewed after the fact.

adjective

  1. cost-effective

adjective

  1. extremely efficient

hyperefficient employees