operative

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

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Examples: operative in a Sentence

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

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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

The most common non-operative treatment is bracing.

— dr. carolyn kienstra and dr. alicia morrisson, miamiherald, "Scoliosis a common condition that could require medical care," 12 June 2018
Profuse post-operative bleeding forced the doctor to perform another procedure that did not fix the damage, prosecutors said.

— Fox News, "New York doctor pleads guilty in fatal abortion," 8 May 2018
Profuse post-operative bleeding forced the doctor to perform another procedure that did not fix the damage, prosecutors said.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "New York doctor pleads guilty in woman's botched abortion death," 7 May 2018
Worker representation on boards is one suggestion; a move towards employee-owned or co-operative-style firms is another.

— The Economist, "Does inequality cause suicide, drug abuse and mental illness?," 14 June 2018
Profuse post-operative bleeding forced the doctor to perform another procedure that did not fix the damage, prosecutors said.

— Fox News, "New York doctor pleads guilty in fatal abortion," 8 May 2018
Profuse post-operative bleeding forced the doctor to perform another procedure that did not fix the damage, prosecutors said.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "New York doctor pleads guilty in woman's botched abortion death," 7 May 2018
Since February, Nelson has been working at Phillips Manor Nursing Home in Lynn as part of her school’s co-operative education program.

— julia preszler, BostonGlobe.com, "Determination drives Lynn Tech’s Nelson from homeless to scholarship winner," 8 June 2018
And then, interestingly, aspirin also reduces the incidences of fever in the post-operative period.

— sandy bauers, Philly.com, "How high-tech genomics - and simple aspirin - could make your joint replacement better," 17 May 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Revelations about pernicious advertising by Russian operatives, chicanery by Cambridge Analytica, and questionable sharing of user data have left many Americans skeptical about Facebook .

— daniel gallant, WSJ, "How to Beat the Zuckerberg Casino," 8 July 2018
Many of the accounts used by Russian operatives, the company researchers found, were not actually created by the IRA.

— craig timberg and elizabeth dwoskin, chicagotribune.com, "Twitter is sweeping out fake accounts like never before, putting user growth at risk," 7 July 2018
In 2016, the federal government first become aware of a massive effort by Russian operatives to affect the electoral process by manipulating social media around the presidential election.

— brian levin, james j. nolan, CBS News, "New data shows US hate crimes continued to rise in 2017," 26 June 2018
Israel's Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked has also threatened legal action against Twitter over the social media giant’s handling of posts by terror operatives, the Times reports.

— christopher carbone, Fox News, "Hezbollah reportedly claims Facebook, Twitter have disabled their main accounts," 25 June 2018
Experts on North Korean and Japanese politics, however, say the abductions were part of an effort by Pyongyang intelligence operatives to learn more about Japanese culture to better train its government spies to act and travel like Japanese people.

— NBC News, "Japanese citizens simply vanished. North Korea had abducted them. But why?," 11 June 2018
They are run by seasoned political operatives who have become more eclectic in their choices.

— The Economist, "David Koch’s retirement and the conservative movement," 7 June 2018
The Man in Black was shot and maybe killed by several people, while Maeve was shot by Delos operatives as her daughter was kidnapped by Ghost Nation.

— mehera bonner, Harper's BAZAAR, "Westworld Just Debuted It's Most Confusing and Mind-Blowing Episode Yet," 4 June 2018
Facebook rolled out the new authorization process Thursday ahead of the midterms in November to block the type of interference by Russian operatives that rocked the 2016 presidential election.

— jessica guynn, USA TODAY, "Facebook's new political ads rules trip up primary candidates," 25 May 2018