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Agency vs Operative - What's the difference?

agency | operative |

As nouns the difference between agency and operative

is that agency is the capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power; action or activity; operation while operative is an employee or other worker with some particular function or skill.

As an adjective operative is

effectual or important.

agency

English

(Webster 1913)

Noun

(agencies)
  • The capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power; action or activity; operation.
    • The superintendence and agency of Providence in the natural world. --Woodward.
  • A person or thing through which power is exerted or an end is achieved: instrumentality, means.
  • The office or function of an agent; also, the relationship between a principal and that person's agent.
  • An establishment engaged in doing business for another; also, the place of business or the district of such an agency.
  • A department or other administrative unit of a government; also, the office or headquarters of, or the district administered by such unit of government.
    • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
    Central Intelligence Agency

    Synonyms

    * action * operation * efficiency * instrumentality * management

    Derived terms

    {{der3, dating agency , employment agency , escort agency , introduction agency , news agency , press agency , relief agency , syndication agency , travel agency}}

    Related terms

    * act * action * agent

    External links

    *

    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

    Related terms

    * operand * operant * operate * operation * operational * operator

    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

    * ----