Operative/ˈɑːpərətɪv/ Definition 1 of 4Pro Tip 1/3Practical Implication Focuses on making things work practically in everyday situations. Are the repairs operative yet? Pro Tip 2/3Word Emphasis Used to stress the main or crucial word in a phrase or sentence. In the phrase 'silently operative', 'operative' is the key word. Pro Tip 3/3System Functioning Refers to how parts of a system are actively working together. The new software is fully operative in the network.