- (a.) Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects; as, an operative motive.
- (a.) Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious; as, an operative dose, rule or penalty.
- (a.) Based upon or consisting of, an operation or operations; as, operative surgery.
- (n.) A skilled worker; an artisan; especially, one who operates a machine in a mill or manufactory.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). operative. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/operative/definitions/2038989 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "operative" http://smartdefine.org/operative/definitions/2038989 (accessed September 20, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, operative, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/operative/definitions/2038989>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "operative" 27 May 2011. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/operative/definitions/2038989> |