What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
surgical
Example
The patient underwent surgical treatment for their cancer. [surgical: adjective]
Example
The surgeon used surgical tools to make an incision in the patient's abdomen. [surgical: adjective]
operative
Example
The patient was anesthetized and made ready for the operative procedure. [operative: adjective]
Example
The operative was successful, and the patient is now in recovery. [operative: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Surgical is more commonly used than operative in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between surgical and operative?
Both surgical and operative are formal words that are typically used in medical or technical contexts.
