operative in English dictionary

  • operative

    Meanings and definitions of "operative"

    • Effectual or important.
    • Functional, in working order.
    • An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.
    • A spy, secret agent, or detective.
    • adjective
      Effectual or important.
    • adjective
      Functional, in working order.
    • adjective
      Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.
    • adjective
      Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.
    • adjective
      Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations.
    • noun
      An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.
    • noun
      A spy, secret agent, or detective.
    • noun
      A participant in an operation.
    • adjective
      being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system"
    • adjective
      effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word"
    • adjective
      (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes"
    • adjective
      relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry"
    • noun
      a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
    • noun
      someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information

    Synonyms of "operative" in English dictionary

    important, functioning, operational are the top synonyms of "operative" in the English thesaurus.

    Antonyms of "operative" in English dictionary

    medical, inoperative are the top antonyms of "operative" in the English thesaurus.

    Grammar and declension of operative

    • operative ( plural  operatives)
    • operative ( comparative more operative, superlative most operative)
    • operative (comparative more operative, superlative most operative)
    • operative (plural operatives)
  • Operative

Sample sentences with "operative"

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