n. 25B6; adjective
the act is not operative at the moment : IN FORCE, in operation, in effect, valid.
the steam railway is operative. : See operational .
the operative word : KEY, significant, relevant, applicable, pertinent, apposite, germane, crucial, critical, pivotal.
invalid.
25B6; noun
the operatives clean the machines : MACHINIST, (machine) operator, mechanic, engineer, worker, workman, (factory) hand, blue-collar worker.
an operative of the CIA : (SECRET) AGENT, undercover agent, spy, mole, plant, double agent; N. Amer. informal spook; archaic intelligencer.
a private operative : (PRIVATE) DETECTIVE, (private) investigator, sleuth; informal private eye; N. Amer. informal gumshoe.