operative

¹op·er·a·tive

adjective \ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv, ˈä-pə-ˌrā-\

Definition of OPERATIVE

1

a : producing an appropriate effect : efficacious

b : most significant or essential <the operative word in a phrase>

2

: exerting force or influence : operating

3

a : having to do with physical operations (as of machines)

b : working <an operative craftsman>

4

: based on or consisting of an operation <operative dentistry>

— op·er·a·tive·ly adverb

— op·er·a·tive·ness noun

Examples of OPERATIVE

1. The factory must pass inspection before it becomes operative.
2. The telephone system is now fully operative.
3. If I go, I will bring a salad. “If,” however, is the operative word, since I am not sure that I can go.

First Known Use of OPERATIVE

15th century

Related to OPERATIVE

Synonyms

alive, functional, functioning, going, live, living, on, operating, operational, active, running, working

Antonyms

broken, dead, inactive, inoperative, kaput (also kaputt), nonactivated, nonfunctional, nonfunctioning, nonoperating, nonoperational, nonoperative

Related Words

effective, effectual; employable, operable, usable (also useable), viable, workable; performing, producing, productive, serving, useful, yielding; astir, bustling, busy, dynamic, flourishing, humming, roaring, thriving

Near Antonyms

deactivated, decommissioned; ineffective, ineffectual, useless; inoperable, unusable, unworkable; arrested, asleep, dormant, fallow, idle, inert, latent, lifeless, nonproductive, quiescent, sleepy, stagnating, unproductive, vegetating

²operative

noun

Definition of OPERATIVE

: operator: as

a : artisan, mechanic

b : a secret agent

c : private detective

d : a person who works toward achieving the objectives of a larger interest <political operatives>

Examples of OPERATIVE

1. <CIA operatives take terrible risks to find out the secrets of foreign countries.>
2. <set in the 1930s, the novel is about a washed-out operative working for a third-rate detective agency>

First Known Use of OPERATIVE

circa 1810

Related to OPERATIVE

Synonyms

agent, asset, emissary, intelligencer, mole, spy, spook, undercover

Related Words

courier; counterspy, double agent, sleeper; infiltrator, informer, stool pigeon; spymaster, superspy

Rhymes with OPERATIVE

aggregative, agitative, applicative, carminative, circulative, cogitative, combinative, commutative, connotative, consecrative, consultative, contemplative, copulative, corporative, denotative, dissipative, duplicative, educative, facultative, federative, generative, germinative, gravitative, imitative, implicative, innovative, instigative, integrative, irritative, iterative, legislative, limitative, meditative, meliorative, motivative, nominative, nuncupative, palliative, penetrative, procreative, propagative, qualitative, quantitative, recreative, regulative, replicative, separative, terminative, vegetative

op·er·a·tive

adjective \ˈäp-(ə-)rət-iv, ˈäp-ə-ˌrāt-\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of OPERATIVE

: of, relating to, involving, or resulting from an operation <operative treatment> <operative mortality rates>