operator

American  

[op-uh-rey-ter] / ˈɒp əˌreɪ tər /

noun

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

• preoperator noun
• self-operator noun

Etymology

Origin of operator

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

Example Sentences

A Japanese vessel carrying natural gas also successfully crossed the waterway, its operator confirmed.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

The port operator has no major asset exposure to the core Persian Gulf region, limiting any drag from the Middle East conflict, she adds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Meanwhile, shares of fellow tower operator Crown Castle finished the session 4.9% higher at $84.73 apiece.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

One Asian-based cruise operator, StarCruises, has started imposing fuel surcharges, at least for future bookings.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

“No, sir,” the operator said, once more on his screen.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

Related Words

• agent
• broker
• dealer
• driver
• manager