US /ˈɑpərətɪv/ UK /ˈɒpərətɪv/
adj noun

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    functioning or having effect; in operation

    The new regulation becomes operative at midnight.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · functioning or having... functioningeffectiveactiveworkingoperationalin forcevalid
Word family
Derived forms operativelyoperativeness

Etymology

From Late Latin 'operativus' ('creative, formative'), from Latin 'operari' ('to work'), from 'opus' ('work').

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Topics

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