operator

American  

[op-uh-ray-ter] / ˈɒp əˌreɪ tər /

noun

• operators
  plural

1. a person who operates a machine, apparatus, or the like.

   a telegraph operator.

2. a person who operates a telephone switchboard, especially for a telephone company.

3. a person who manages a working or industrial establishment, enterprise, or system.

   the operators of a mine.

4. a person who trades in securities, especially speculatively or on a large scale.

5. a person who performs a surgical operation; a surgeon.

6. Mathematics.

   1. a symbol for expressing a mathematical operation.

   2. a function, especially one transforming a function, set, etc., into another.

      a differential operator.

7. Informal.

   1. a person who accomplishes goals or purposes by devious means; faker; fraud.

   2. a person who is adroit at overcoming, avoiding, or evading difficulties, regulations, or restrictions.

   3. a person who is extremely successful with or smoothly persuasive to potential sexual or romantic partners.

8. Genetics. a segment of DNA that interacts with a regulatory molecule, preventing transcription of the adjacent region.

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operator British  

/ ˈɒpəˌreɪtə /

noun

1. a person who operates a machine, instrument, etc, esp, a person who makes connections on a telephone switchboard or at an exchange

2. a person who owns or operates an industrial or commercial establishment

3. a speculator, esp one who operates on currency or stock markets

4. informal a person who manipulates affairs and other people

5. maths any symbol, term, letter, etc, used to indicate or express a specific operation or process, such as Δ (the differential operator)

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operator Scientific  

/ ŏp′ə-rā′tər /

1. Mathematics A function, especially one from a set to itself, such as differentiation of a differentiable function or rotation of a vector. In quantum mechanics, measurable quantities of a physical system, such as position and momentum, are related to unique operators applied to the wave equation describing the system.

2. A logical operator.

3. Genetics A segment of chromosomal DNA that regulates the activity of the structural genes of an operon by interacting with a specific repressor.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preoperator
  noun
• self-operator
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• operators
  plural

Etymology

Origin of operator

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Late Latin, equivalent to operā(rī) “to work, effect” ( see operate) + Latin -tor noun suffix ( see -tor)

Explanation

An operator is a person who runs a machine, equipment, or a vehicle. If you want to be a jackhammer operator some day, you might hope to work on a road crew of for a construction company. An operator operates, or controls, something. You could be a radio operator, a heavy machinery operator, or even a telephone operator — or you can be the operator, or manager, of a business. If you start your own dog walking company, you can call yourself an "owner-operator." The Latin root of both operator and operate is operari, "to work," and "to cause."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

operator operators

In November 2020, Indian government investigators found hidden bore holes where the operator of the United Marine Products fishmeal plant in Goa had been covertly disposing of toxic waste, thereby contaminating groundwater.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

He then singled out Ambani, whose Reliance conglomerate owns Jio, India's biggest mobile network operator.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Last month Prime Minister Edi Rama said a national waste treatment operator was being created to meet European standards.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

In April, the Misfit Bar & Restaurant shuttered after 15 years after its operator chose not to renew its lease, citing conditions in downtown Santa Monica and changes in the building’s ownership.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

“I hope you and your family have a pleasant flight on TWA, Mr. Winter,” said the operator cheerily, and hung up.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

And UBS home-builders analyst John Lovallo points out that harsh conditions in the housing market are forcing builders to become better operators.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

Local zoning, power and labor constraints cap new U.S. tower construction at just 1,200 to 2,000 structures per year, meaning that SpaceX would have to lease existing space from major tower operators.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

Vineyard operators are also pivoting to raising cattle or growing other crops such as hay and barley.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

At that time some of its sites were closed or transferred to other operators.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

Olanna was used to unprofessional and inept operators, but this was the rudest she had experienced.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• agent
• broker
• dealer
• driver
• manager