Meaning & Definition of Operative in English
English⟶
Operative
/ɑpərətɪv/
noun
1. A person secretly employed in espionage for a government
synonym:
- secret agent,
- intelligence officer,
- intelligence agent,
- operative
2. Someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information
synonym:
- private detective,
- PI,
- private eye,
- private investigator,
- operative,
- shamus,
- sherlock
adjective
1. Being in force or having or exerting force
- "Operative regulations"
- "The major tendencies operative in the american political system"
synonym:
- operative
2. Relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine
- "A surgical appendix"
- "A surgical procedure"
- "Operative dentistry"
synonym:
- surgical,
- operative
3. Effective
- Producing a desired effect
- "The operative word"
synonym:
- operative
4. (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing
- "In running (or working) order"
- "A functional set of brakes"
synonym:
- running(a),
- operative,
- functional,
- working(a)