# operator

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɒpəˌɹeɪtə/ · frequency rank #4,178

## Definitions
1. A person or organisation that operates a device, system, service, etc.
2. A telecommunications facilitator whose job is to connect or otherwise assist callers.
3. A member of a military special operations unit.
4. The game of Chinese whispers.
5. A person who is adept at making deals or getting results, especially one who uses questionable methods.
6. A function or other mapping that carries values defined on a domain into another value or set of values in a defined range.
7. The administrator of a channel or network on IRC.
8. A symbol that represents a construct in a programming language and differs from a normal function in its syntax.
9. A kind of expression that enters into an a-bar movement dependency and is said to bind a variable.
10. A bus driver.
11. The company that operates a mine; often the same one that owns the mine.
12. A thief or charlatan.
13. A major criminal.
14. Someone who is successful at pursuing women; a player.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin operātor, from operor (“work, labour”). Equivalent to operate + -or.

## Easily confused with
- **orator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/operator-vs-orator)
- **operators** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/operator-vs-operators)
- **operate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/operate-vs-operator)
- **operated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/operated-vs-operator)
- **operatic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/operatic-vs-operator)
- **operation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/operation-vs-operator)

## Common misspellings (11)
`oeprator`, `opeartor`, `operaotr`, `operatorr`, `operatro`, `operattor`, `operrator`, `opertaor`, `opperator`, `opreator`, `poerator`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/operator