effectism

E1F4F4E1C3T1I1S1M3

noun

A form of art based on producing an effect rather than conveying an idea.

Scrabble 19
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nouneffectism (uncountable)
  1. derogatoryuncountableartA form of art based on producing an effect rather than conveying an idea.

    I despise imitation and effectism. No great art ever rose or ever can rise that is based upon imitation or that sacrifices truth for effect.

    1894, Lorettus Sutton Metcalf, Walter Hines Page, Joseph Mayer Rice, The Forum, volume 17, page 696

Origin

From effect + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

effectism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/effectism

MLA

“effectism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/effectism. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “effectism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/effectism.

Source: effectism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.