The word "effete" has Latin bits that literally mean "out of breeding," or less literally, "too old and worn-out to have any more offspring."

In English, we first used "effete" to describe farm animals that couldn't have any more offspring, as well as land that was worn out and could no longer be used to grow crops.

Most often these days, we apply the word figuratively to all kinds of things and ideas that are old, weak, worn-out, and too exhausted to be useful or productive anymore.

That's the meaning you should stick with if you care a lot about using words "correctly." (Did you see me gesturing with huge air quotes around "correctly"? That's what I was doing.) But word meanings change and multiply over time, and "effete" has taken on some new meanings. You're welcome to use them, along with many writers and speakers who do—but you should be aware that many purists view them as incorrect. 

As Charles Harrington Elster points out in Verbal Advantage, the word "effete" often gets confused with the similar-sounding words "elite" and "effeminate." This happens so often that dictionaries now recognize these as official meanings of "effete." (Here's some more historical background, if you're interested.)

In other words, if you call something effete, and you don't mean it's no longer useful or productive, you probably mean it's snobby and stuck-up, or too girly or too feminine when you think it should be tough and masculine instead.

Part of speech:

Adjective: "the effete aristocracy;" "I can't be the only one who finds the College Board a little evil and a lot effete."

Other forms: 

Effetely, effeteness.

how to use it:

I suggest using the word "effete" with care, or not using it all.

Even though it's a semi-common word, you're likely to confuse any readers who don't know all of its meanings. And you're likely to put language purists in a huff if you use its newer meanings ("highfalutin" or "inappropriately feminine"). And, you'll have to provide enough context so that your reader knows which meaning you mean ("highfalutin," "inappropriately feminine," or the original, "exhausted and useless").

Plus, it's just snobby and insulting. Especially since 1969, when Vice President Spiro Agnew famously slammed the anti-war media as "an effete corps of impudent snobs who characterize themselves as intellectuals." There's just a nasty bitterness that clings to the word.

But sometimes, nasty bitterness is what you need. So you might talk about effete people, characters, groups, media, governments, institutions, philosophies, etc.

examples:

"One of the popular misconceptions about university life in America is that most students are effete 'elites' who have never so much as looked at an unpaid bill."
   — David Masciotra, Salon, 9 September 2017

"Wilson hopes the documentary helps shed his profession's effete reputation. 'Sommeliers are not here to gouge you,' he says, 'but to help you understand the wines a little better and to make sure you have a good time.'"
   — Amy Perry, New York Times, 19 June 2013

has this page helped you understand "effete"?

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

study it:

Explain the older, more traditional meaning of "effete" without saying "exhausted" or "hors de combat."

Because you were definitely about to say hors de combat. Don't deny it!

try it out:

A writer for the Guardian described a TV show called Revenge like this:

"It's like some high-camp, super-soap opera with conniving women running rings around clueless, effete men."

That's really all the context we get. So, I'm guessing, because these male characters are also "clueless," that "effete" here means "ineffective." But it could also mean "hoity-toity" or "effeminate." Or some combination. We're in soap-opera territory, where wealthy, glossy-haired, fashionably-sweatered men abound. So what did "effete" mean there? I. Just. Don't. Know.

What do you think the writer meant by "effete" in that context? Do you think the word works here, or do you think it comes off as confusing? What's your personal approach to the word "effete:" will you use it sometimes, or never, and why?

If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.)

before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game for June is "Happy Stories in Hidden Cities."

I'll give you a sentence from a happy news story, along with a long word that contains all the letters, in order, of the name of the city in which the story takes place. And you give me the city.

Here's an example:

"A puppy was excited to experience his first-ever snowfall on Friday, November 11, after a winter storm swept through the area." FARRAGO.

The answer here is "Fargo," the city where this story takes place. You can spot the name FARGO inside FARRAGO.

Try this one today:

"For the last 20 years, Renee Bercury's yellow raincoat has been her constant companion throughout every adventure – but when she saw a [marathon] runner who was desperately in need of warmth, she didn't hesitate to give it up." BEZOAR-STONE.

To see the answer, scroll all the way down!

review this word:

1. Opposites of EFFETE, in its various meanings, include

A. VIGOROUS, HUMBLE, and MACHO.
B. HANDY, FRAGRANT, and TEXTURED.
C. PRIM, TACTFUL, and JUDGMENTAL.

2. In the New York Times, Amanda Hess argued that political conservatives have long worked "to stitch the words 'effete' and 'liberal' together, painting a whole swath of the political spectrum as _____ affectation."

A. a corrupt
B. a feminine
C. an unhinged

Answers to the review questions: 1. A 2. B Answer to the game question: This story takes place in Boston, whose name you can spot inside BEZOAR-STONE.

a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog: On vocabulary...       36 ways to study words.       Why we forget words, & how to remember them.       How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. On writing...       How to improve any sentence.       How to motivate our kids to write.       How to stop procrastinating and start writing.       How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count. From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.