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Commando vs Operative - What's the difference?

commando | operative |

As nouns the difference between commando and operative

is that commando is a small fighting force specially trained for making quick destructive raids against enemy-held areas while operative is an employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.

As an adjective operative is

effectual or important.

commando

English

Noun

(wikipedia commando) (en-noun)
  • A small fighting force specially trained for making quick destructive raids against enemy-held areas.
  • * 1977 , (Alistair Horne), A Savage War of Peace , New York Review Books 2006, p. 89:
  • The most important objective was at Batna itself, where a group of three commandos each comprising ten men was to attack Deleplanque's sub-prefecture [...].
  • A commando trooper
  • (historical) An organized force of Boer troops in South Africa; a raid by such troops
  • Derived terms

    * go commando

    References

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    operative

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Effectual or important.
  • He's usually in a good mood — the operative word there being "usually". Today was a disaster.
  • Functional, in working order.
  • Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects.
  • an operative motive
  • * South
  • It holds in all operative principles.
  • Producing the appropriate or designed effect; efficacious.
  • an operative dose, rule, or penalty
  • Based upon, or consisting of, a surgical operation or operations.
  • operative surgery

    Derived terms

    * operative word

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.
  • A spy, secret agent, or detective.
  • A participant of an operation.
  • Anagrams

    * ----