Meaning of operative | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Effectual or important.
2. Functional, in working order.
3. operation
4. Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.
5. Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.
6. Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations.

Equivalents

Examples

“He's usually in a good mood — the operative word there being "usually". Today was a disaster.”

“an operative motive”

“It holds in all operative principles.”

“This call is operative not merely on the level of abstract theory.”

“an operative dose, rule, or penalty”

“operative surgery”

CEFR level