Overview of noun operative

The noun operative has 2 senses

• secret agent, intelligence officer, intelligence agent, operative -- (a person secretly employed in espionage for a government)


• private detective, PI, private eye, private investigator, operative, shamus, sherlock -- (someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information)

Overview of adj operative

The adj operative has 4 senses

• operative -- (being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system")


• surgical, operative -- (relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry")


• operative -- (effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word")


• running, operative, functional, working -- ((of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes")