operative

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

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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