operative

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op|era|tive /'ɒpərətɪv/ (operatives)
1 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
A system or service that is operative is working or having an effect. (FORMAL)
The commercial telephone service was no longer operative...
2 [N-COUNT]
An operative is a worker, especially one who does work with their hands. (FORMAL)
In an automated car plant there is not a human operative to be seen.
3 [N-COUNT]
An operative is someone who works for a government agency such as the intelligence service. (mainly AM)
Naturally the CIA wants to protect its operatives.
4 [PHRASE] N inflects
If you describe a word as the operative word, you want to draw attention to it because you think it is important or exactly true in a particular situation.
As long as the operative word is `greed', you can't count on people keeping the costs down...

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