operative

[ op-er-uh-tiv, op-ruh-tiv, op-uh-rey-tiv ]

/ ˈɒp ər ə tɪv, ˈɒp rə tɪv, ˈɒp əˌreɪ tɪv /

noun

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

a detective.

a secret agent; spy.

adjective

operating, or exerting force, power, or influence.

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

effective or efficacious.

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

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

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

Words nearby operative

operational amplifier, operational calculus, operationalism, operations research, operations room, operative, operatize, operator, operator gene, operatory, opercle

Origin of operative

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

SYNONYMS FOR operative

1 workman, factory hand.

2 investigator, agent.

6 effectual, serviceable.

OTHER WORDS FROM operative

op·er·a·tive·ly, adverbop·er·a·tive·ness, op·er·a·tiv·i·ty

[op-er-uh-tiv-i-tee] /ˌɒp ər əˈtɪv ɪ ti/, nounin·ter·op·er·a·tive, noun, adjectivenon·op·er·a·tive, adjective

un·op·er·a·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for interoperative

This is a world of progressive decentralization and interoperative possibilities.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for interoperative

operative

/ (ˈɒpərətɪv) /

adjective

in force, effect, or operation

exerting force or influence

producing a desired effect; significantthe operative word

of or relating to a surgical procedure

noun

a worker, esp one with a special skill

US a private detective

Derived forms of operative

operatively, adverboperativeness 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

Medical definitions for interoperative

operative

[ ŏp′ər-ə-tĭv, -ə-rā′tĭv, ŏp′rə- ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or resulting from a surgical operation.

Functioning effectively; efficient.