operative

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op·er·a·tive / ˈäp(ə)ritiv; ˈäpəˌrātiv/ • adj. 1. functioning; having effect: the transmitter is operative the mining ban would remain operative. ∎  (of a word) having the most relevance or significance in a phrase or sentence: a young man, and the operative word is young, should go into the armed services at around seventeen.2. of or relating to surgery: they had wounds needing operative treatment.• n. a worker, esp. a skilled one in a manufacturing industry. ∎  a private detective or secret agent.DERIVATIVES: op·er·a·tive·ly adv.op·er·a·tive·ness n.