Operative — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv/ op·er·a·tive

Meaning & Definition of Operative

Operative (adjective)

  1. producing an appropriate effect, efficacious
  2. most significant or essential
  3. exerting force or influence, operating

Operative (noun)

  1. operator
  2. artisan, mechanic
  3. a secret agent

Operative (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country

    "CIA operatives take terrible risks to find out the secrets of foreign countries"

    similar: agent, asset, emissary, intelligencer, mole, spook, spy, undercover, secret agent, undercover agent
    related: courier, counterspy, double agent, sleeper, infiltrator, informer, stool pigeon, spymaster, superspy

  2. a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons

    "set in the 1930s, the novel is about a washed-out operative working for a third-rate detective agency"

    similar: detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, investigator, private detective, private eye, private investigator, shamus (slang), sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound
    related: shadow, tail, tracer, tracker, fed, Federal, G-man, narc (slang), plainclothesman

Operative (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being in effective operation

    "the last operative bookbinder of its kind in the business"

    similar: active, alive, functional, functioning, going, live, living, on, operating, operational, running, working, in commission, in force, in gear, on line
    related: effective, effectual, employable, operable, usable, viable, workable, performing, producing, productive, serving, useful, yielding, astir, bustling, busy, dynamic, flourishing, humming, roaring, thriving
    opposite: broken, dead, inactive, inoperative, kaput, nonactivated, nonfunctional, nonfunctioning, nonoperating, nonoperational, nonoperative
    near: deactivated, decommissioned, ineffective, ineffectual, useless, inoperable, unusable, unworkable, arrested, asleep, dormant, fallow, idle, inert, latent, lifeless, nonproductive, quiescent, sleepy, stagnating, unproductive, vegetating

  2. producing or capable of producing a desired result

    "unfortunately, the operative amount of the medication and the lethal amount were too close for it to be used safely"

    similar: effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient, fruitful, potent, productive
    related: hyperefficient, ultraefficient, adequate, capable, competent, accomplished, adept, consummate, experienced, expert, masterly, practiced, proficient, skilled, skillful, versed, veteran, virtuoso, cogent, convincing, killer, sound, striking, telling, valid, active, dynamic, useful, working, applicable, feasible, functional, practicable, practical, realizable, usable, workable
    opposite: fruitless, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, inoperative, unfruitful, unproductive, useless
    near: counterproductive, incapable, incompetent, inexperienced, inexpert, unqualified, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful, abortive, bootless, futile, vain, empty, hollow, idle, pointless, unavailing, unprofitable, unsuccessful, inoperative, worthless

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Operative

The most common words with a similar meaning to Operative:

Slang: shamus
agent, asset, emissary, intelligencer, mole, spook, spy, undercover, detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, investigator, private detective, private eye, private investigator, sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound, secret agent, undercover agent, active, alive, functional, functioning, going, live, living, on, operating, operational, running, working, effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient, fruitful, potent, productive

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Operative

Words with the opposite meaning of Operative:

broken, dead, inactive, inoperative, kaput, nonactivated, nonfunctional, nonfunctioning, nonoperating, nonoperational, nonoperative, fruitless, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, unfruitful, unproductive, useless

Related Words for Operative

courier, counterspy, double agent, sleeper, infiltrator, informer, stool pigeon, spymaster, superspy, shadow, tail, tracer, tracker, fed, Federal, G-man, narc, plainclothesman, employable, operable, usable, viable, workable, performing, producing, serving, useful, yielding, astir, bustling

Near Antonyms of Operative

deactivated, decommissioned, inoperable, unusable, unworkable, arrested, asleep, dormant, fallow, idle, inert, latent, lifeless, nonproductive, quiescent, sleepy, stagnating, vegetating, counterproductive, incapable, incompetent, inexperienced, inexpert, unqualified, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful, abortive, bootless, futile

Word Forms of Operative

Derived words: operatively (adverb), operativeness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Operative

Middle English operatif "active, working," borrowed from Late Latin operātīvus, from operātus, past participle of operārī "to work, be efficacious" + Latin -īvus -ive operate

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Operative

What does "Operative" mean?

"Operative" means producing an appropriate effect, efficacious. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: producing an appropriate effect, efficacious. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Operative"?

Other words for "Operative" include agent, asset, emissary, intelligencer, mole, spook, spy and undercover. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Operative" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Operative"?

There are 111 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Operative". Common alternatives include agent, asset, emissary, intelligencer, mole, spook, spy, undercover, detective and dick.

What is the opposite of "Operative"?

Antonyms of "Operative" include broken, dead, inactive, inoperative, kaput, nonactivated, nonfunctional and nonfunctioning. Near antonyms include deactivated, decommissioned, inoperable and unusable.

How do you use "Operative" in a sentence?

Examples of "Operative" in a sentence: "CIA operatives take terrible risks to find out the secrets of foreign countries"; "set in the 1930s, the novel is about a washed-out operative working for a third-rate detective agency"; "the last operative bookbinder of its kind in the business".

Is "Operative" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Operative" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Operative"?

"Operative" is pronounced /ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv/ and divided into syllables as op·er·a·tive.

What is the origin of the word "Operative"?

"Operative" comes from Middle English operatif "active, working," borrowed from Late Latin operātīvus, from operātus, past participle of operārī "to work, be efficacious" + Latin -īvus -ive operate. First known use: 15th century.