effettive

Effettive is the feminine plural form of the Italian adjective effettivo and is used in a range of contexts to denote something that is real, actual, or in effect. It typically contrasts observed or realized values with theoretical or planned ones. The term is common in professional and technical language, especially in accounting, finance, and administration.

In everyday measurement and reporting, effettive modifies nouns to indicate reality as opposed to forecast. Examples include ore effettive (actual hours worked), costi effettivi (actual costs), and spese effettive (actual expenses). When used as a noun, the related forms can refer to people on a payroll or the workforce, with effettivi indicating the actual staff or personnel.

In legal and regulatory contexts, effettivo frequently appears in phrases such as beneficiario effettivo, meaning the beneficial owner of an asset or company. This sense emphasizes the real, ultimate control or ownership, beyond nominal or registered titles.

Etymology and nuance: effettivo derives from Latin effectivus, through historical Italian usage. In modern Italian, effettivo often conveys actuality or enforceable status, and is distinct from efficace, which more narrowly means effective in producing results or being efficient. The two terms can overlap in everyday language but have different emphases in formal writing.

See also: effettivo, efficacia, beneficiario effettivo, costo effettivo.