Definition of
operative has definitions from the fields of work,surgery
1
[ adjective ] being in force or having or exerting force

Examples

"operative regulations" "the major tendencies operative in the American political system"

Used in print

(William G. Pollard, Physicist and Christian....)

The spirit of the Marine_Corps was present and operative before any of the present members of_it came into it .

Related terms

inoperative effective operational at_work working at_work

2
[ noun ] a person secretly employed in espionage for a government

Synonyms

intelligence_officer intelligence_agent secret_agent

Related terms

agent spy foot bridge_agent agent-in-place codetalker case_officer noc walk-in agent_provocateur

3
[ adjective ] (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing

Synonyms

working functional running

Examples

"in running (or working) order" "a functional set of brakes"

Related terms

functioning

4
[ adjective ] (surgery) relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine

Synonyms

surgical

Examples

"a surgical appendix" "a surgical procedure" "operative dentistry"

Related terms

medical preoperative postoperative

5
[ adjective ] effective; producing a desired effect

Synonyms

key

Examples

"the operative word"

Related terms

significant

6
[ adjective ] (surgery) of or relating to a surgical operation

Examples

"operative surgery"

Related terms

operation

7
[ noun ] (work) someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information

Synonyms

private_eye private_detective private_investigator sherlock shamus PI

Related terms

detective store_detective inquiry_agent hotel_detective

*

Rhymes with

uncooperative inoperative recuperative vituperative corroborative alliterative superlative cooperative figurative generative remunerative degenerative uncompetitive noncompetitive competitive corruptive neoconservative interpretive expletive affirmative conservative ultraconservative preservative alternative comparative imperative contemplative hyperactive speculative communicative cumulative additive representative argumentative preventative unrepresentative tentative rep intuitive causative prerogative uninformative representative evocative informative relative oversensitive derivative commemorative formative sensitive provocative consecutive imaginative normative executive sedative palliative decorative insensitive illustrative collaborative consultative meditative rehabilitative authoritative imitative vegetative qualitative overactive interactive narrative positive negative causative tentative talkative restorative pejorative laxative fugitive exploitative accusative deliberative demonstrative nutritive curative corroborative putative punitive supportive irrespective introspective retrospective prospective collaborative repetitive competitive productive indicative primitive fixative diminutive acquisitive lucrative initiative secretive prohibitive accommodative elucidative alliterative iterative substantive locomotive automotive assertive unimaginative appreciative initiative determinative contraceptive attentive appointive adoptive adaptive inattentive respective accumulative regulative administrative perspective stimulative nonnative manipulative investigative introspective protective innovative prognosticative perceptive deliberative hypersensitive cognitive derivative sensitive insensitive plaintive additive protective octave preemptive unreceptive captive deceptive receptive directive corrective eruptive descriptive detective furtive active native presumptive affective exploitive addictive suggestive unattractive restive collective facultative attractive photoconductive directive conductive digestive objective refractive subjective connective combative congestive legislative selective commemorative eruptive disruptive productive counterproductive nonproductive reproductive seductive unproductive redemptive ineffective probative preventive productive festive

Phonetic and Homophones

AA1 P ER0 AH0 T IH0 V

Similar Spelling

operatively operate operatic operation operating opera_hat operations operate_on operational operator oporto

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