operator

noun

op·​er·​a·​tor ˈä-pə-ˌrā-tər 

ˈä-ˌprā-

1

: one that operates: such as

a

: one that operates a machine or device

b

: one that operates a business

c

: one that performs surgical operations

d

: one that deals in stocks or commodities

2

a

: mountebank, fraud

b

: a shrewd and skillful person who knows how to circumvent restrictions or difficulties

3

a

: something and especially a symbol that denotes or performs a mathematical or logical operation

b

: a mathematical function

4

: a binding site in a DNA chain at which a genetic repressor binds to inhibit the initiation of transcription of messenger RNA by one or more nearby structural genes

called also operator gene

compare operon

operatorless adjective

Examples of operator in a Sentence

the operator of an automobile

the operator of a nuclear power plant

Call the operator for the phone number.

Operator, please connect me with extension 123.

She's quite an operator—no one else could have gotten them all to agree to the project.

Recent Examples on the Web

These facilities typically house dozens of robots in large office-like spaces spanning thousands of square meters, where human operators repeatedly perform simple tasks alongside the machines to generate and record detailed data on key physical actions. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Mar. 2026

Beacon Interfaith/Kimball Court Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, a nonprofit owner-operator of affordable housing and housing with supportive services, is weeks away from opening a new addition to its Kimball Court apartments in April. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026

In recent years, North Korea’s partnership with Chinese money laundering networks has unlocked a new level of speed and efficiency that North Korean operators had not been able to achieve independently. —Lisa Cavazuti, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026

John showed me what an operator would do. —Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin operātor "worker, producer," from operārī "to work, be efficacious" + Latin -tor, agent suffix — more at operate

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing operator

• crane operator
• smooth operator

Rhymes for operator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Kids Definition

operator

noun

op·​er·​a·​tor ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt-ər 

1

: a person who operates something

the operator of an automobile

2

: a person in charge of a telephone switchboard

Medical Definition

operator

noun

op·​er·​a·​tor ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt-ər 

1

: one (as a dentist or surgeon) who performs surgical operations

2

: a binding site in a DNA chain at which a genetic repressor binds to inhibit the initiation of transcription of messenger RNA by one or more nearby structural genes

called also operator gene

compare operon