operative

adjective op·er·a·tive \ ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv , ˈä-pə-ˌrā- \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

Definition of operative

1 a : producing an appropriate effect : efficacious

operative techniques

b : most significant or essential

the operative word in a phrase

the operative facts

2 : exerting force or influence : operating

an operative statute

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

operative skills

b : working

an operative craftsman

4 : based on or consisting of an operation

operative dentistry

The disease may require operative treatment.

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operatively

adverb

—

operativeness

noun

See operative defined for English-language learners

See operative defined for kids

Examples of operative in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of operative from the Web

During the June enforcement, an ATC agent said he and an operative were patted down by a sheriff's deputy before entering the club.

— kevin litten, NOLA.com, "A N.O. East club had repeat prostitution violations, OPSO deputy working: ATC," 31 Oct. 2017
Moreover, naval leadership does not appear willing to take the innovative and necessary steps within the current budget to significantly enlarge the fleet’s size within the operative budgetary confines.

— jerry hendrix, National Review, "Why the United States Needs a 355-Ship Navy Now," 18 Oct. 2017
The end result is that the telescope will not be fully operative for some time at all wavelengths.

— National Geographic, "Hurricane Damages Giant Radio Telescope—Why It Matters," 26 Sep. 2017
The first question is more directly operative, and perhaps simpler—though not necessarily simple.

— david a. graham, The Atlantic, "What's the Right Punishment for Tearing Down a Confederate Monument?," 17 Sep. 2017
Private is the operative word; the $22 million facility is located on the far side of the airport, away from public terminals and paparazzi.

— adam popescu, Vanities, "Inside the Private, Celebrity-Friendly Terminal at LAX," 16 Aug. 2017
Private is the operative word; the $22 million facility is located on the far side of the airport, away from public terminals and paparazzi.

— adam popescu, vanityfair.com, "Inside the Private, Celebrity-Friendly Terminal at LAX," 16 Aug. 2017
Uneventful is the operative word as baseball's first half comes to an end Sunday.

— paul sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "Baseball's best and worst from an uneventful first half of 2017," 7 July 2017
Well, whatever logic went into that thinking apparently is not operative anymore.

— jorge l. ortiz, USA TODAY, "MLB All-Star Game: Selections show modern game is in constant state of flux," 3 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'operative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of operative

Middle English operatif "active, working," borrowed from Late Latin operātīvus, from operātus, past participle of operārī "to work, be efficacious" + Latin -īvus -ive — more at operate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

operative Synonyms

operative

noun

Definition of operative

: operator: such as

a : artisan, mechanic

b : a secret agent

c : private investigator

d : a person who works toward achieving the objectives of a larger interest

political operatives

See operative defined for English-language learners

Examples of operative in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of operative from the Web

This year, the public learned that Russian operatives used Facebook to propagandize and troll Americans during the 2016 election, using connectivity to create division.

— avi selk, chicagotribune.com, "Facebook VP justified bullying, terrorism as costs of network's 'growth'," 30 Mar. 2018
Mayer relates Steele’s claim that Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, went to Prague to pay off Russian operatives in order to cover up Russia’s hacking operation.

— david sedaris, The New Yorker, "The Mail," 26 Mar. 2018
Moore was there, as were Bannon and Boyle, according to footage shot by operatives with the progressive group American Bridge.

— Philly.com, "Attorney says Roy Moore supporters offered him $10,000 to drop client who accused the Senate candidate of sexual impropriety," 23 Mar. 2018
But there was plenty of evidence that Russian operatives had tried to interfere with the 2016 presidential election, and perhaps other elections, in the hope of destabilizing democracy.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Alan Dershowitz’s Audition to Be Trump’s Lawyer Is Not Going Well," 21 Mar. 2018
The contentious meeting lasted until 4 a.m. A vote by 1,000 life members ousted the NRA's chief operative, executive vice president Maxwell Rich, and his cronies.

— jeff suess, Cincinnati.com, "NRA: 'Revolt at Cincinnati' molded National Rifle Association," 8 Mar. 2018
Russian operatives used inflammatory social media posts to disrupt U.S. energy policy, including inciting environmentalists to protest against pipeline projects, House Republicans said in a report released Thursday.

— Fortune, "Russia Accused of Using Social Media to Incite Environmentalists to Protest Pipeline Projects," 1 Mar. 2018
But the Twitter campaign around the Parkland shooting is an example of how Russian operatives are still at it.

— author: sheera frenkel, daisuke wakabayashi, Anchorage Daily News, "Russian bot army pounced on Twitter after Florida school shooting," 20 Feb. 2018
And although collusion hasn’t been proven, there’s strong evidence of shady contacts between high-level Trump campaign officials and Russian political operatives.

— jeet heer, New Republic, "Stop Inflating the Russia Threat," 20 Feb. 2018