Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

operative

/ˈɑpəɹətɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.86 in modern English

Syllables
op-er-a-tive
IPA
/ˈɑpəɹətɪv/
14
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
4
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Effectual or important.

adj

Functional, in working order.

adj

Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.

adj

Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.

adj

Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations.

noun

An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.

noun

A spy, secret agent, or detective.

noun

A participant in an operation.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English operative, operatyfe, from Middle French operatif (modern French opératif) or its etymon Latin operātīvus. By surface analysis, operate + -ive.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: operative, operatif, operātīvus

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈɑpəɹətɪv/
  • British English: /ˈɒpəɹətɪv/

Inflected Forms

more operative (comparative) most operative (superlative) operatives (plural)

Derived Forms

cooperative disoperative inoperative interoperative intraoperative microoperative nonoperative operatively operativeness operativity paraoperative perioperative

Phrases

co-öperative co-operative Co-operative Commonwealth Federation intra-operative operative clause Operative Masonry operative word peri-operative

Frequently Paired Words

operand operant operate operation operational operator

Synonyms

running functional working surgical private detective pi private eye private investigator shamus sherlock

Rhymes With

uncooperative inoperative

Questions

How do you pronounce operative?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɑpəɹətɪv/.
What does operative mean?
Effectual or important.
Where does operative come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce operative

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “operative”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɑpəɹətɪv/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “operative”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “operative” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.