The present invention relates to a linear drive (1), comprising a running track (2), at least one movement unit (4) with at least one magnetic element (5), which is linearly movable on the running track (2), a plurality of electrical primary magnets (3) which are stationarily arranged on the running track (2) and act magnetically upon the at least one magnetic element (5), wherein the primary magnets (3) can be activated individually or in groups for driving the movement unit (4), a magnetically activatable element (7) on the movement unit (4), wherein the magnetically activatable element (7) can be activated by at least one primary magnet (3) independently of the drive of the movement unit (4), and an actuator (9) and/or a load on the movement unit (4), the magnetically activatable element (7) being in operative connection with the actuator (4) and/or the load.