Operatives — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun

Meaning & Definition of Operatives

Operatives (noun)

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

Operatives (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: agents, assets, emissaries, intelligencers, moles, spies, spooks, undercovers, secret agents, undercover agents
    related: couriers, counterspies, double agents, sleepers, infiltrators, informers, stool pigeons, spymasters, superspies

  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: detectives, dicks, gumshoes, hawkshaws, investigators, private detectives, private eyes, private investigators, shamuses (slang), sherlocks, sleuthhounds, sleuths
    related: shadows, tails, tracers, trackers, Federals, feds, G-men, narcs (slang), plainclothesmen

Related Entry: Operative (noun)

Operative is a different word from Operatives. The synonyms below are for operative, not for operatives.

  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

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Operatives

The most common words with a similar meaning to Operatives:

Slang: shamuses
agents, assets, emissaries, intelligencers, moles, spies, spooks, undercovers, detectives, dicks, gumshoes, hawkshaws, investigators, private detectives, private eyes, private investigators, sherlocks, sleuthhounds, sleuths, secret agents, undercover agents

Related Words for Operatives

couriers, counterspies, double agents, sleepers, infiltrators, informers, stool pigeons, spymasters, superspies, shadows, tails, tracers, trackers, Federals, feds, G-men, narcs, plainclothesmen

Origin & Etymology of Operatives

derivative of operative:1

First known use: circa 1810

Frequently Asked Questions about Operatives

What does "Operatives" mean?

"Operatives" means operator. As a noun, it is defined as: operator. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Operatives"?

Other words for "Operatives" include agents, assets, emissaries, intelligencers, moles, spies, spooks and undercovers. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Operatives" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Operatives"?

There are 40 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Operatives". Common alternatives include agents, assets, emissaries, intelligencers, moles, spies, spooks, undercovers, detectives and dicks.

How do you use "Operatives" in a sentence?

Examples of "Operatives" 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".

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

"Operatives" is a noun.

What is the origin of the word "Operatives"?

"Operatives" comes from derivative of operative:1. First known use: circa 1810.

What is another word for "Operatives" meaning "a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country"?

When "Operatives" (noun) means a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country, synonyms include agents, assets, emissaries, intelligencers, moles and spies.

What is another word for "Operatives" meaning "a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons"?

When "Operatives" (noun) means a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons, synonyms include detectives, dicks, gumshoes, hawkshaws, investigators and private detectives.