operator
noun
op·er·a·tor
ˈä-pə-ˌrā-tər 
ˈä-ˌprā-
1
: one that operates: such as
a
: one that operates a machine or device
b
: one that operates a business
c
: one that performs surgical operations
d
: one that deals in stocks or commodities
2
a
: mountebank, fraud
b
: a shrewd and skillful person who knows how to circumvent restrictions or difficulties
3
a
: something and especially a symbol that denotes or performs a mathematical or logical operation
b
: a mathematical function
4
: a binding site in a DNA chain at which a genetic repressor binds to inhibit the initiation of transcription of messenger RNA by one or more nearby structural genes
called also operator gene
compare operon
operatorless
adjective
Examples of operator in a Sentence
the operator of an automobile
the operator of a nuclear power plant
Call the operator for the phone number.
Operator, please connect me with extension 123.
She's quite an operator—no one else could have gotten them all to agree to the project.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage.
—
Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 24 July 2025
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the only Disney park located in a resort which is also home to outposts of rival operators like SeaWorld and Warner Bros.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Kansai Electric is currently Japan’s biggest nuclear operator based on the number of reactors online.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 23 July 2025
Oracle is one of the largest data center operators in the country.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for operator
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 24 July 2025
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the only Disney park located in a resort which is also home to outposts of rival operators like SeaWorld and Warner Bros.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Kansai Electric is currently Japan’s biggest nuclear operator based on the number of reactors online.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 23 July 2025
Oracle is one of the largest data center operators in the country.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for operator
Cite this Entry
“Operator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/operator. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
operator
noun
op·er·a·tor
ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt-ər
1
: a person who operates something
the operator of an automobile
2
: a person in charge of a telephone switchboard
Medical Definition
operator
noun
op·er·a·tor
ˈäp-(ə-)ˌrāt-ər
1
: one (as a dentist or surgeon) who performs surgical operations
2
: a binding site in a DNA chain at which a genetic repressor binds to inhibit the initiation of transcription of messenger RNA by one or more nearby structural genes
called also operator gene
compare operonLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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