# operational

Pronunciation: US say "op-uh-RAY-shuh-nuhl" /ɔpɜˈɹeɪʃənəl/; UK say "op-er-AY-shuh-nuhl" /ˌɒpəˈɹeɪʃənəl/

## Adjective

1. Functioning and ready for use.
   - Simple: Working properly and ready to be used.
   - _The hospital's backup generators became operational within seconds of the power failure._
   - _Crews worked overnight to get the rail line fully operational again._
2. Concerned with carrying out operations, particularly in the military.
   - Simple: Having to do with operations, especially in the military.
   - _The briefing covered operational priorities for the coming campaign._
   - _Her role focused on operational logistics rather than frontline combat._
3. Currently in force and producing its intended effect; operative.
   - Simple: Working and having a real effect right now.
   - _The treaty's provisions are operational from the first of January._
   - _The agreement stays operational until either side formally withdraws._
4. Determined through practical, measurable procedures rather than abstract theory.
   - Simple: Based on what can actually be measured or tested in practice.
   - _Researchers adopted an operational definition of intelligence based on standardized test scores._
   - _Each variable was given an operational measure that other labs could replicate._

## Origin

Formed from "operation" combined with the suffix "-al".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/operational (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).