Effettivi

Effettivi is an Italian term whose meaning depends on context and part of speech. As an adjective, effettivo denotes something real, actual, or effective, used to distinguish planned or theoretical figures from what is realized. For example, a “numero effettivo di partecipanti” refers to the actual count of people who attended, not the expected or projected figure.

As a noun, effettivo (plural effettivi in gender and number agreement) can mean a person who holds a post or position, particularly a permanent employee or staff member. In this sense, it is often used in public administration, human resources, and organizational contexts to identify those officially assigned to a role, as opposed to contractors, temporary workers, or substitutes. The phrase “organico effettivo” or “personale effettivo” commonly designates the authorized staff or workforce that an organization officially employs.

In labor and budgetary language, effettivi is frequently employed to report the real size of the workforce or the actual headcount against the funded or projected figures. This usage helps differentiate between the authorized staffing level (organico) and what is currently present or employed.

Etymologically, effettivo derives from the Italian word effetto (effect) and shares roots with Latin effectivus, reflecting notions of producing effect or being in force. In modern Italian, the term remains versatile across administration, statistics, and everyday language.

See also: effettività, effettivo vs temporaneo, organico (personale).