operative

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

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.

Origin of operative

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

Related formsop·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, adjectiveun·op·er·a·tive, adjective

Synonyms for operative

1. workman, factory hand. 2. investigator, agent. 6. effectual, serviceable.

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

British Dictionary definitions for operativity

operative

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 Formsoperatively, 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

Word Origin and History for operativity

operative

"worker, operator," 1809, from operative (adj.); sense of "secret agent, spy" is first attested 1930, probably from its use by the Pinkerton Detective Agency as a title for their private detectives (1905).

operative

adj.

"producing the intended effect," early 15c., from Old French operatif (14c.) or directly from Late Latin operativus "creative, formative," from operat-, past participle stem of operari (see operation). Weakened sense of "significant, important" is from 1955.

operativity in Medicine

operative

[ŏp′ər-ə-tĭv, -ə-rā′tĭv, ŏp′rə-]

adj.

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

Functioning effectively; efficient.