Origin: Latin suffix -ive
Operative has 8 different meanings across 2 categories:
a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
"The operative infiltrated the embassy to gather intelligence on behalf of his agency."
someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information
"The police hired an operative to infiltrate the gang and gather evidence without being detected."
An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.
"The new computer programmer joined the team as an operative responsible for fixing security bugs."
In plain English: An operative is someone who works directly on an important mission, often secretly for a government agency.
"The surgeon is an operative who performs delicate heart surgeries every day."
Usage: Use this term to describe an active member of a group, such as a police operative or military operative, rather than someone who is merely present but inactive. It specifically highlights the person's functional role and specialized skills within that organization.
being in force or having or exerting force
"operative regulations"
"the major tendencies operative in the American political system"
(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing
"in running (or working) order"
"a functional set of brakes"
Effectual or important.
"The new regulations proved to be an operative factor in reducing traffic accidents."
The word "operative" comes from the Latin operativus, which originally described something that operates or is in action. It entered English through Middle French and was later reinforced by a direct combination of the verb "operate" with the suffix "-ive."