This word is acceptable for play in the US & UK dictionaries that are being used in the following games:

• Lexulous
• Wordscraper
• Wordosaur

adj. Being in effect; having force; operating: "Two major tendencies are operative in the American political system” ( Heinz Eulau).

adj. Functioning effectively; efficient.

adj. Engaged in or concerned with physical or mechanical activity.

adj. Of, relating to, or resulting from a surgical operation.

adj. Significant; most important; key: The operative word is "low-fat.”

n. A skilled worker, especially in industry.

n. A secret agent; a spy.

n. A private investigator.

n. One who works for a political organization, often wielding influence out of public view.

adj. Effectual or important.

adj. Functional, in working order.

n. An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.

n. A spy, secret agent, or detective.

n. A participant of an operation.

adj. Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.

adj. Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious; effective.

adj. Based upon, or consisting of, an operation or operations.

n. A skilled worker; an artisan; esp., one who operates a machine in a mill or manufactory.

n. One who acts as an agent of another, especially a detective or spy.

Active in the production of effects or results; acting; exerting force or influence.

Efficacious; effective; efficient.

Concerned with the actual exercise of power, or the putting forth of effort or labor in the accomplishment of some end; practical.

Of, pertaining to, or concerned with operations, as those of surgery.

n. A workman; an artisan.

n. One who operates in any line of business; an operator: used in certain circumstances as a convenient substitute for detective.

n. someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information

adj. effective; producing a desired effect

adj. relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine

n. a person secretly employed in espionage for a government

adj. (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing

adj. being in force or having or exerting force

"Charlie Crist Jr., who, according to one McCain operative, is the other candidate — besides Jindal — who McCain is seriously considering tapping as his running mate."

significant    important    preoperative    postoperative    functioning    in effect    inoperation    in force    operating    good   

operative surgery   

operation    operate    operational    operand    operant    operator   

operative word   

efficacious    effective    artisan    active    affective    worker   

inoperative    uncooperative   

laborers    workman    investigator    worker    artisan    spy    technician    operator    applicable    operational