operative

(a) being in force or having or exerting force
- operative regulations
- the major tendencies operative in the American political system
(a) relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine
- a surgical appendix
- a surgical procedure
- operative dentistry
surgical,
(s) effective; producing a desired effect
- the operative word
(s) (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing
- in running (or working) order
- a functional set of brakes
working, functional, running,

(n) a person secretly employed in espionage for a government intelligence agent, intelligence officer, secret agent,
(n) someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information private detective, private eye, private investigator, shamus, sherlock, PI,

intelligence agent intelligence officer secret agent private detective private eye private investigator shamus sherlock PI surgical working functional running

inoperative medical

operatic

operating operation

operative field operatively