Adjective The factory must pass inspection before it becomes operative. The telephone system is now fully operative. If I go, I will bring a salad. “If,” however, is the operative word, since I am …

OPERATIVE definition: 1. a worker, especially one who is skilled in working with their hands: 2. a person who works…. Learn more.

Operative definition: a person engaged, employed, or skilled in some branch of work, especially productive or industrial work; worker.. See examples of OPERATIVE used in a sentence.

1. Being in effect; having force; operating: "Two major tendencies are operative in the American political system" (Heinz Eulau). 2. Functioning effectively; efficient. 3. Engaged in or …

A system or service that is operative is working or having an effect. The commercial telephone service was no longer operative. An operative is a worker, especially one who does work with …

operating, or exerting force, power, or influence. being in effect or operation: laws operative in this city. effective or efficacious. engaged in, concerned with, or pertaining to work or productive …

The factory must pass inspection before it becomes operative. The telephone system is now fully operative. If I go, I will bring a salad. “If,” however, is the operative word, since I am not sure …

As a noun, operative is often used as a synonym for spy. It can also, less covertly, be used to name a skilled worker, as in "No one aligns gears better than Joe, an operative at the car …

Definition of operative noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

There are 12 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word operative, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.