- plural of operative.
operatives
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Malkovich and Sam Rockwell play veteran CIA operatives who, after helping destabilize Salvador Allende’s government in 1973 Chile, head to Easter Island on a more personal assignment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
The Israeli operatives loaded Al-Arabid wounded but alive into a van that sped him across the border into Israel for interrogation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Two alleged Libyan intelligence operatives -- Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah -- were charged with the bombing and tried by a Scottish court in the Netherlands.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
"The latest incident placed the welfare and safety of operatives at risk so the decision was taken to pause operations," said UK Highways A55 Ltd.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
The two operatives acting as cattlemen soon ingratiated themselves with William Hale, who considered them fellow Texas cowboys and who introduced them to many of the leading townsfolk.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
