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Added 9 October 2026

operative

/ˈɒpəɹətɪv/ noun

Latin root: operātīvus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about operative at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A person secretly employed in espionage for a government.
Someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information.

adjective

Being in force or having or exerting force.
operative regulations
Relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine.
a surgical appendix
Effective; producing a desired effect.
the operative word

Origin

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

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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