operative
adjective
- 1
being in force or having or exerting force
operative regulations
the major tendencies operative in the American political system
- 2
(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing
in running (or working) order
a functional set of brakes
- 3
relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine
a surgical appendix
a surgical procedure
- 4
effective; producing a desired effect
the operative word
noun
- 1
someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information
- 2
a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
Also useful for “operative”:Scrabble— High-value letters — see what it scores