operative

[ op-er-uh-tiv, op-ruh-tiv, op-uh-rey-tiv ]
See synonyms for: operativeoperativesoperativeness on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a person engaged, employed, or skilled in some branch of work, especially productive or industrial work; worker.

  2. a detective.

  1. a secret agent; spy.

adjective
  1. operating, or exerting force, power, or influence.

  2. having force; being in effect or operation: laws operative in this city.

  1. effective or efficacious.

  2. engaged in, concerned with, or pertaining to work or productive activity.

  3. significant; key: The operative word in that sentence is “sometimes.”

  4. Medicine/Medical. concerned with, involving, or pertaining to surgical operations.

Origin of operative

1
1590–1600; <Middle French operatif<Latin operāt(us) (see operate) + Middle French -if-ive

Other words for operative

Other words from operative

  • op·er·a·tive·ly, adverb
  • op·er·a·tive·ness, op·er·a·tiv·i·ty [op-er-uh-tiv-i-tee], /ˌɒp ər əˈtɪv ɪ ti/, noun
  • in·ter·op·er·a·tive, noun, adjective
  • non·op·er·a·tive, adjective
  • un·op·er·a·tive, adjective

Words Nearby operative

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use operative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for operative

operative

/ (ˈɒpərətɪv) /


adjective
  1. in force, effect, or operation

  2. exerting force or influence

  1. producing a desired effect; significant: the operative word

  2. of or relating to a surgical procedure

noun
  1. a worker, esp one with a special skill

  2. US a private detective

Derived forms of operative

  • operatively, adverb
  • operativeness or operativity, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012