effete

adjective

ef·​fete i-ˈfēt 

e-

1

: no longer fertile

2

a

: having lost character, vitality, or strength

the effete monarchies … of feudal Europe

—G. M. Trevelyan

… macrophages that recycle used iron from effete red cells.

—Nancy C. Andrews

b

: marked by weakness or decadence

the effete East

c

: soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence

peddled … trendy tweeds to effete Easterners

—William Helmer

effete tenderfeet

also : characteristic of an effete person

a wool scarf … a bit effete on an outdoorsman

—Nelson Bryant

3

: effeminate sense 1

a good-humored, effete boy brought up by maiden aunts

—Herman Wouk

effetely adverb

effeteness noun

Did you know?

Effete derives from Latin effetus, meaning "no longer fruitful," and for a brief time in English it was used to describe an animal no longer capable of producing offspring. For most of its existence in English, however, the use of "effete" has been entirely figurative. For many years, the usual figurative sense of the word was "exhausted" or "worn out," but today "effete" is more likely to suggest overrefinement, weakness of character, snobbery, and effeminacy. "Effete" first showed signs of acquiring these shades of meaning in the 1920s, but it wasn't until the 1940s that the new "effete" clearly established itself in reputable writing. One example can be found in John Steinbeck's 1945 novel Cannery Row: "now and then some effete customer would order a stinger or an anisette."

Synonyms

• decadent
• decayed
• degenerate
• overripe
• washed-up

Examples of effete in a Sentence

effete members of the aristocracy

the soft, effete society that marked the final years of the Roman empire

Recent Examples on the Web

And for centuries the fork remained suspect in Europe, as the effete accessory of aristocrats; as late as the 17th century, Louis XIV, amid the pomp of Versailles, is said to have insisted on grabbing food — off a gold plate — with his fingers. —Ligaya Mishan Kyoko Hamada, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024

Michael Urie lends an elastic face and sing-songy intonations to Sir Robin, and Ethan Slater’s dexterous physical humor, as a French mime, an effete prince and a naked puppeteer, is always welcome. —Naveen Kumar, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023

Perfetti gives him an effete contemporaneity, but the character needs new lines more than a new look. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023

The once-nerdy kid has become a blue-collar first responder just like grandfather Martin, and has nothing in common with his snobbish, effete father. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Latin effetus, from ex- + fetus fruitful — more at feminine

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

effete

adjective

ef·​fete e-ˈfēt 

i-

1

: no longer productive

2

a

: worn-out sense 2, exhausted

b

: having lost strength, courage, or spirit : decadent

effete snobs

effetely adverb

effeteness noun