1. (

• secret_agent ,
• intelligence_officer ,
• intelligence_agent ,
• operative ,

) a person secretly employed in espionage for a government ;

2. (

• private_detective ,
• PI ,
• private_eye ,
• private_investigator ,
• operative ,
• shamus ,
• sherlock

) someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information ;

1. (

• operative

) being in force or having or exerting force; "operative regulations"; "the major tendencies operative in the American political system" ;

2. (

• surgical ,
• operative ,

) relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine; "a surgical appendix"; "a surgical procedure"; "operative dentistry" ;

3. (

• operative

) effective; producing a desired effect; "the operative word" ;

4. (

• running ,
• operative ,
• functional ,
• working

) (of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes" ;