C2 实际上；事实上
in fact, or in practice
So in effect the government have lowered taxes for the rich and raised them for the poor. 所以呢，实际上政府是为富人减了税，而给穷人加了税。
There was fluid in his lungs, in effect reducing their capacity.
As his private secretary she is, in effect, second in command.
The report said, in effect, that if there was no change, the company would go under.
These measures would, in effect, nationalize the industry.
See also: effect noun (RESULT)