operative

Meaning

Adj

1. Effectual or important.
2. Functional, in working order.
3. Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.
4. Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.
5. Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations.

Noun

1. An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.
2. A spy, secret agent, or detective.
3. A participant in an operation.

Synonyms

worker

labourer

hand

✋

working man

laborer

workman

surgical

active

effective

working

secret agent

in force

intelligence agent

agent

private detective

functional

shamus

actor

artisan

constable

cop

👮

copper

in effect

intelligence officer

in use

mechanic

🧑‍🔧

officer

policeman

👮‍♂️

police officer

👮

private eye

private investigator

running

🏃

sherlock

spy

PI

Jack

effectual

current

live

valid

wondrous

op

operable

operant

operated

operating

operational

operator

opportunity

artificer

Translations

operativo

werkkracht

operatorio

werker

arbeider

werkman

ouvrier

agente

werkzaam

operatiu

operativo

agent

αποτελεσματικός

funktionstüchtig

agent

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɒpəɹətɪv/

Etymology

Cognate with French: opératif

In summary

From Middle English operative, operatyfe, from Middle French operatif (modern French opératif) or its etymon Latin operātīvus. By surface analysis, operate + -ive.