noun one who is capable of active service.
2. effective ·noun that which produces a given effect; a cause.
3. effective ·noun specie or coin, as distinguished from paper currency;
a term used in many parts of europe.
4. effective ·add. ·noun the serviceable soldiers in a country; an army or any military body, collectively; as, france's effective.
5. effective ·adj having the power to produce an effect or effects; producing a decided or decisive effect; efficient; serviceable; operative; as, an effective force, remedy, speech; the effective men in a regiment.