operative

/ˈɒpəɹətɪv/

//ˈɒpəɹətɪv// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"operative" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“operative” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #8,836 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#8,836
frequency rank, English
9
letters
12
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Effectual or important.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

operative vs operate
78% similar
operative vs operatic
78% similar
operative vs operation
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for operative
PropertyValue
Headwordoperative
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈɒpəɹətɪv/
Letters9
Frequency rank#8,836
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “operative” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). operative lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for operative is 9 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɒpəɹətɪv/. Corpus data places it at rank #8,836 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for operative, with forms such as "oeprative", "opeartive", and "operaitve". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "operate", "operatic", "operation", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English operative, operatyfe, from Middle French operatif (modern French opératif) or its etymon Latin operātīvus. By surface analysis, operate + -ive. The correct English form is operative, spelled O-P-E-R-A-T-I-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Effectual or important.
  2. 2
    Functional, in working order.
  3. 3
    Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.
  4. 4
    Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.
  5. 5
    Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations.

Etymology

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

This word in other languages

operatorio(Español)opératif(Français)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: oeprative,opeartive,operaitve,operatiev,operativve,operattive,operatvie,operrative,opertaive,opperative,opreative,poerative

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of operative - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

oeprative2opeartive2operaitve2operatiev2operativve1operattive1operatvie2operrative1
Edit distance from "operative"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "operative"?
"operative" is spelled O-P-E-R-A-T-I-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɒpəɹətɪv/.
What does "operative" mean?
As an adjective, "operative" means: Effectual or important.
What words are commonly confused with "operative"?
"operative" is commonly confused with "operate", "operatic", "operation". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "operative"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "operative" is /ˈɒpəɹətɪv/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "operative"?
From Middle English operative, operatyfe, from Middle French operatif (modern French opératif) or its etymon Latin operātīvus. By surface analysis, operate + -ive. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “operative”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is O-P-E-R-A-T-I-V-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɒpəɹətɪv/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “operate” - see the side-by-side comparison. operative vs operate
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list