What does "operative" mean?
Operative: Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious; as, an operative dose, rule, or penalty.
Additional senses
- 2.(Surg.) Based upon, or consisting of, an operation or operations; as, operative surgery.
- 3.A skilled worker; an artisan; esp., one who operates a machine in a mill or manufactory.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00