operative
gb/ˈɑpɚɪtɪv/ us/ˈɑpɚɪtɪv/
B2
English
~ 7400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
working and able to be used
Working and ready to be used.
Usage pattern:
[something] is operative
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "operative" instead of the more common "working" in everyday conversation. In casual speech, it is more natural to say "The machine is working" than "The machine is operative," which sounds more formal or technical.
Synonyms
functional (Often used for machines or systems that work as designed; slightly more technical.)
|
working (More informal and general; can describe anything that works, not just systems or rules.)
Antonyms
inoperative (More formal and technical; stresses that something cannot operate or is not in effect.)
|
out of order (Common informal phrase for machines that are broken or not working.)
Collocations
fully operative
|become operative
|remain operative
|system is operative
|make [something] operative
|not yet operative
Themes
technology
|business
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new security system is now fully operative.
- Only two of the four elevators are currently operative.
- The app is installed but not yet operative on older phones.
- Once the funding is approved, the program will be operative within six months.
- Emergency generators remained operative throughout the power outage.
Learner examples
- The machine is operative again.
- All doors must be operative in an emergency.
- The website is not operative today.
- When the lights are operative, the shop can open.
- The hospital became operative in 2020.
unknown
C1
entity
2
secret agent or covert worker
A person who secretly works for a government or group to get information or do special jobs.
Usage pattern:
an operative in [organization]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "operative" always means a factory worker. In news and films, "operative" much more often means a secret or undercover agent working for a government or organization.
Synonyms
agent (More common and general; can be secret or public, and is used in many fields, not only intelligence.)
|
operative (Often suggests covert, on-the-ground action, sometimes more hands-on than a general "agent.")
Antonyms
civilian (Highlights someone who is not part of the security, military, or intelligence services.)
Collocations
CIA operative
|undercover operative
|intelligence operative
|field operative
|covert operative
|senior operative
Themes
security
|crime
|politics
|law
Examples
- The journalist claimed to have spoken with a former CIA operative.
- Several undercover operatives were sent into the region to gather information.
- An intelligence operative warned that the threat was being underestimated.
- The agency pulled its operatives out of the country after the attack.
- As a field operative, she often had to make split-second decisions.
Learner examples
- The movie is about a CIA operative.
- An undercover operative entered the gang.
- Police operatives watched the house for three days.
- The secret operative used a false name.
- Many operatives work in other countries.
Noun
C1
entity
3
political worker or strategist
Someone who works for a political party or campaign, usually planning and organizing, not as a public leader.
Usage pattern:
a [party/campaign] operative
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse "political operative" with elected officials like "senator" or "mayor." An operative is usually a worker or strategist, not the public face or main leader.
Synonyms
strategist (Focuses more on planning and strategy; not all operatives are high-level strategists.)
|
party worker (More informal and descriptive; lacks the slightly secretive or professional tone of "operative.")
Antonyms
independent voter (Someone not formally working for or aligned with a specific party organization.)
Collocations
political operative
|party operative
|campaign operative
|senior operative
|longtime operative
|backroom operative
Themes
politics
|business
|communication
Examples
- Seasoned political operatives helped shape the candidate’s message.
- Party operatives worked late into the night to get out the vote.
- A senior campaign operative denied the allegations.
- Behind every successful candidate is a team of skilled operatives.
- The report quoted anonymous operatives from both major parties.
Learner examples
- Many political operatives work behind the scenes.
- A party operative planned the event.
- Campaign operatives called thousands of voters.
- The article spoke with a senior operative in the party.
- Operatives tried to control the news story.
Noun
C2
entity
4
factory or machine worker
A worker in a factory or plant who uses machines or does simple jobs by hand.
Usage pattern:
a [factory/machine] operative
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this word for any worker. In modern English, "operative" in this sense is mainly used in formal job titles or industrial contexts; in everyday speech, people more often say "worker" or "employee."
Synonyms
worker (Very general; does not suggest factory or machine work specifically.)
|
operator (Often more specific to someone who operates particular machines or equipment.)
Antonyms
manager (Represents supervisory or administrative staff rather than manual or shop-floor workers.)
Collocations
factory operative
|machine operative
|production operative
|shop-floor operative
|skilled operative
|assembly-line operative
Themes
work
|industry
|business
|technology
Examples
- The company employs over 200 factory operatives at its main plant.
- Machine operatives must complete safety training before starting work.
- The firm is hiring additional production operatives for the night shift.
- As a skilled operative, she is responsible for maintaining the equipment.
- Shop-floor operatives raised concerns about the new schedule.
Learner examples
- He works as a factory operative.
- The plant needs more production operatives.
- Each machine operative wears safety clothing.
- Many operatives lost their jobs last year.
- The manager spoke with the operatives on the floor.
adjective
formal
C1
property
5
having force or effect
Having real effect or power, especially when talking about laws, rules, or words that really matter in a situation.
Usage pattern:
[clause/rule/word] is operative
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the more general meaning "working." In formal writing, "operative" about clauses or words means they have real effect or are the ones that matter, not that they are physically working.
Synonyms
effective (Common in legal and official language for rules or dates that are in force.)
|
binding (Highlights that something must be obeyed; not all operative clauses are necessarily binding in the same way.)
Antonyms
void (Legal term meaning that something has no legal effect.)
|
inoperative (Points out that a rule or clause no longer has effect or is not applied.)
Collocations
operative clause
|operative provisions
|become operative
|remain operative
|operative word
|operative date
Themes
law
|business
Examples
- The operative clause of the contract is found in section 3.
- These regulations are not yet operative and will take effect next year.
- In this sentence, the operative word is "may," which suggests discretion.
- The court ruled that the older statute was no longer operative.
- Only the provisions listed in Schedule A are operative in this case.
Learner examples
- The law is now operative.
- This rule is not operative today.
- The operative date is 1 July.
- Here the operative word is "must."
- Only some parts of the agreement are operative.
adjective
technical
C2
property
6
relating to surgery
About a medical operation, or the time before, during, or after it.
Usage pattern:
[operative] + [care/findings/risk/procedure]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "operative" in medical texts is closely tied to the word "operation" and is usually used with other medical terms like "care," "risk," or "findings." It is not used for everyday "working" in this context.
Synonyms
surgical (More common general term in medicine for anything related to surgery.)
Antonyms
non-operative (Used in medicine to describe treatment that does not involve surgery.)
Collocations
operative care
|operative findings
|operative risk
|pre-operative period
|post-operative complications
|operative procedure
Themes
medicine
|science
|health
|body
Examples
- The patient experienced several post-operative complications.
- Pre-operative assessment is essential to reduce risk.
- Operative findings confirmed the initial diagnosis.
- Good post-operative care can shorten hospital stays.
- The report focused on operative techniques for heart surgery.
Learner examples
- She had post-operative pain after the surgery.
- Pre-operative tests are done before an operation.
- The doctor wrote a note about the operative findings.
- Post-operative care is very important.
- The team talked about operative risks with the patient.
Grammar
Dictionary form
operative
IPA
GB/ˈɑpɚɪtɪv/
US/ˈɑpɚɪtɪv/
Syllables & stress
op - er - at - ive (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (op)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: operative
Noun
- Base: operative
- Plural: operatives
Word family
Forms
operatives
noun
Related words
operational
adjective B1
operable
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
inoperative
adjective
nonoperational
adjective
inoperable
adjective
Advanced or less common
operationally
adverb
Expressions
the operative word is
1/ðə ˈɑpɚɪtɪv wˈɚd ˈɪz/
fixed phrase
identify the most important word
Used to point to the one word in a sentence that is most important for the meaning in this situation.
Examples
- In the phrase "I might help," the operative word is "might."
- When I said we would "try" to fix it, the operative word is "try."
- He promised to "consider" your idea; the operative word is "consider."