operative word

Meanings

1. 1phrasecountable

   The word in a statement that carries the most important or decisive meaning.

   Grammar: Countable, usually used with 'the': the operative word is 'maybe'.

   Patterns

   • the operative word is ...
   • the operative word here is ...
   • '...' is the operative word

   He said he might come, but 'might' is the operative word.

   The report calls the change 'gradual' — and 'gradual' is the operative word.

   In that sentence, 'free' is the operative word; everything else is just detail.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   Used to draw attention to a word that limits or qualifies what was just said.

   Grammar: Often stands alone as a comment after a statement: 'I'll try to be there — try being the operative word.'

   Patterns

   • X being the operative word
   • the operative word being X

   She's a 'friend' — friend being the operative word.

   The job is 'temporary', temporary being the operative word.

   He called it a 'small' problem, small being the operative word.

Common combinations

the operative word is

The operative word is 'voluntary' — nobody has to take part.

the operative word here

The operative word here is 'safe', not 'cheap'.

being the operative word

It's a 'holiday' — being the operative word, since I'll be working.

the operative word in that sentence

The operative word in that sentence is 'almost'.

Synonyms and how they differ

key word

Key word simply means an important word in a text or search; operative word stresses that this word decides the real meaning.

keyword

Keyword is mostly used for search terms or labels; operative word is used in speech to point out a word that changes what a statement really means.

Word family

operative adjective

Most important or in effect, as in 'the operative clause'.

operation noun

The act of working or a medical procedure.

Commonly confused: operative word or operational word?

Practice

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