operative
/ˈɑpəɹətɪv/adjective, noun
operative is spelled O-P-E-R-A-T-I-V-E: 9 letters and 4 syllables. It appears 7.2 times per million words in written English, the 8,784th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, operative means “Effectual or important” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in operative?
| Letters | 9: O-P-E-R-A-T-I-V-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 7.2 times per million words; the 8,784th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with | |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is operative?
Operative appears 7.2 times per million words in written English, the 8,784th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce operative?
- UK /ˈɒpəɹətɪv/
- UK /ˈɒpɹətɪv/
- US /ˈɑpəɹətɪv/
Operative has 4 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-operative.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with operative?
One word on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as operative from its last stressed vowel (/ɑpəɹətɪv/):
Spelled with the same letters in another order: evaporite.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of operative
- more operative comparative
- most operative superlative
- operatives plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does operative mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Effectual or important.
He's usually in a good mood – the operative word there being "usually". Today was a disaster.
- 2
Functional, in working order.
- 3
Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.
an operative motive
- 4
Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.
an operative dose, rule, or penalty
- 5
Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations.
operative surgery
noun
- 1
An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.
- 2
A spy, secret agent, or detective.
- 3
A participant in an operation.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Operative in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | opératif , opératoire , agent , ouvrier |
| Spanish | operatorio, operativo , operario |
| Portuguese | operatório |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does operative come from?
From Middle English operative, operatyfe, from Middle French operatif (modern French opératif) or its etymon Latin operātīvus. By surface analysis, operate + -ive.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).