operative

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

noun

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

   Synonyms: workman

2. a detective.

   Synonyms: investigator, agent

3. a secret agent; spy.

adjective

1. operating, operating, or exerting force, power, or influence.
2. having force; being in effect or operation:

   laws operative in this city.

3. effective or efficacious.

   Synonyms: serviceable, effectual

4. engaged in, concerned with, or pertaining to work or productive activity.
5. significant; key:

   The operative word in that sentence is “sometimes.”

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

operative

/ ˈɒpərətɪv /

adjective

1. in force, effect, or operation
2. exerting force or influence
3. producing a desired effect; significant

   the operative word

4. of or relating to a surgical procedure

noun

1. a worker, esp one with a special skill
2. a private detective

Derived Forms

• ˈoperatively, adverb
• ˈoperativeness, noun

Other Words From

• oper·a·tive·ly adverb
• oper·a·tive·ness op·er·a·tiv·i·ty [op-er-, uh, -, tiv, -i-tee], noun
• inter·oper·a·tive noun adjective
• non·oper·a·tive adjective
• un·oper·a·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of operative¹

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

Example Sentences

To paraphrase Democratic operative James Carville, it’s about identity, stupid.

From Los Angeles Times

The Israeli military said a senior Hezbollah operative was captured in a naval raid in the northern Lebanese town of Batroun on Friday.

From BBC

“I have heard from Republicans that there is concern at the Trump campaign, amongst the operatives that actually do know the political wherewithal that the turnout and enthusiasm numbers are not where they need to be,” the Bush-era operative said.

From Salon

What he found is that “the kinds of things that do make you happy, whether trivial or profound, will still be operative when you’re stressed about something else.”

From Los Angeles Times

A judge has said a former government operative has shown evidence of malice in a 2021 report on organizations that took payments to help Afghans evacuate during U.S. military’s exit.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• operational
• usable