operative

An operative is a person who is employed in or is skilled in a certain branch of work.

Operative is generally used to mean a worker, but in some industries, an operative is specifically a representative or a manager.

In the fields of espionage and tactics, an operative is almost always a spy or agent working secretly for an organization.

Operative also means detective when used in reference to the police force or private investigation teams.

As an adjective, operative often means exerting power or influence. Something that is operative is binding or in effect, such as operative laws or an operative organization that establishes rules.

In medicine, operative describes something related to a surgical operation. Operative pain, for example, is pain that occurs from having an operation.

Example: A public relations operative informed us that there is an emerging crisis.

The first records of the term operative come from around the 1590s. It ultimately comes from the Latin operātus. 

You might also hear operative used to mean “key” or “central,” especially as in the context of literature or grammar. In this case, something operative is required or unavoidable for the completion or accomplishment of something. In grammar, an operative word is one that gives the sentence its specific meaning or emphasizes the main point.

What are some other forms related to operative?

• operatively (adverb)
• operativeness (noun)
• interoperative (adjective, noun)
• nonoperative (adjective)
• inoperative (adjective)

What are some synonyms for operative?

• worker
• spy
• detective
• usable
• operational

What are some words that share a root or word element with operative? 

• operate
• operational
• operator
• operating
• operation

What are some words that often get used in discussing operative?

• espionage
• investigation
• primary
• work

Operative is a common word with several meanings.

Love you all… Talk to you in 24 hrs- unplug, do something meaningful- "do" is the operative word;) I'm stoked! #unplug #Thrive

— Ian Somerhalder (@iansomerhalder) March 7, 2014

ADVERTISEMENT: Do you have a terrible sense of rhythm and timing? If so.. have you ever considered a career as a CO2 cannon operative at festivals and clubs?

— Gorgon City (@GorgonCity) September 2, 2018

"Going to your happy place" reduces operative pain.

— UberFacts (@UberFacts) July 18, 2014

Is operative used correctly in the following sentence?

The operative word in the stirring directions is ‘continuously,’ otherwise the mixture will burn.