effet

Effet is a masculine French noun meaning "effect" or "result," referring to the consequence produced by a cause or action. It is used across everyday language as well as in science, law, philosophy, and the arts to denote an influence or outcome.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from Latin effectus and entered Old French before becoming the modern French effet. It typically conveys the idea of a process that brings about a change or consequence, rather than just the end state.

Common phrases and senses: Effet appears in numerous fixed expressions that describe specific kinds of influence. Examples include effet secondaire (side effect), effet domino (domino effect), effet de serre (greenhouse effect), effet placebo (placebo effect), and effet optique (optical effect). In physics and related sciences, many named effects use the term in compound forms, such as effet photoélectrique (photoelectric effect) or effet Doppler (Doppler effect).

Grammatical notes: Effet is singular; its plural form is effets. It is a general noun and is often paired with adjectives or other nouns to specify the kind of influence or outcome.

In English, the word effet is typically encountered only in French contexts or in quoted phrases; the corresponding English term is "effect." The word remains common in French-language discourse, where it functions as a versatile label for causal influence and consequence.