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Operative vs Executive - What's the difference?

operative | executive |

As adjectives the difference between operative and executive

is that operative is effectual or important while executive is designed or fitted for execution, or carrying into effect.

As nouns the difference between operative and executive

is that operative is an employee or other worker with some particular function or skill while executive is a title of a chief officer or administrator, especially one who can make significant decisions on her/his own authority.

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

    * ----

    executive

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Designed or fitted for execution, or carrying into effect.
  • Of, pertaining to, or having responsibility for the day-to-day running of an organisation, business, country, etc.; as, an executive act, an executive officer, executive government.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A title of a chief officer or administrator, especially one who can make significant decisions on her/his own authority.
  • That branch of government which is responsible for enforcing laws and judicial decisions, and for the day-to-day administration of the state.
  • Derived terms

    * chief executive * chief executive officer, CEO * executive branch * executive committee * executive committees * executive director * executive ego function * executive ego functions * executive mansion * executive officer * executive order * executive producer * executive producers * executive summaries * executive summary * executively * executives