adj · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌɒp.əˈɹeɪ.ʃə.nəl/
London:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:BerkshireRecorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AA2 P ER0 EY1 SH AH0 N AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of or relating to operations, especially military operations.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Functioning and ready for use.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Effective or operative.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Determined by means of practical measures.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective
Meaning 5
(military) of or intended for or involved in military operations
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: nonoperational
6
adjective
Meaning 6
pertaining to a process or series of actions for achieving a result
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
operational difficulties
they assumed their operational positions
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
being in effect or operation- Leslie Marmon Silko
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
de facto apartheid is still operational even in the `new' African nations
bus service is in operation during the emergency
the company had several operating divisions
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: in operation(p), operating(a)
Antonyms: none provided
8
adjective satellite
Meaning 8
fit or ready for use or service
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the toaster was still functional even after being dropped
the lawnmower is a bit rusty but still usable
an operational aircraft
the dishwasher is now in working order
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: functional, usable, useable, operable
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h3ep- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h3épos Proto-Italic *opos Latin opus Latin opera Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -or Latin operor Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin operātiōder. Old French operacionbor. Middle English operacioun English operation English -al English operational From operation + -al.
Across languages
Translations
56 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
գործառնական
(gorcaṙnakan)
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Bulgarian:
оперативен
(operativen)
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Catalan:
operatiu
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Finnish:
operatiivinen
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
German:
Einsatz-
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
German:
Operations-
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Greek:
ετοιμοπόλεμος
(etoimopólemos)
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Greek:
μάχιμος
(máchimos)
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Indonesian:
operasional
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Latin:
operātiōnālis
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Norwegian Bokmål:
operasjonell
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Norwegian Nynorsk:
operasjonell
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Persian:
عملیاتی
('amaliyâti)
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Romanian:
operațional
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Russian:
операти́вный
(operatívnyj)
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Spanish:
operacional
— of or relating to operations, especially military operations
Bulgarian:
работещ
(rabotešt)
— functioning and ready for use
Bulgarian:
функциониращ
(funkcionirašt)
— functioning and ready for use
Catalan:
operatiu
— functioning and ready for use
Finnish:
toimiva
— functioning and ready for use
Finnish:
toimintakuntoinen
— functioning and ready for use
Finnish:
toimintakykyinen
— functioning and ready for use
German:
betriebsbereit
— functioning and ready for use
German:
funktionsfähig
— functioning and ready for use
German:
einsatzfähig
— functioning and ready for use
Greek:
λειτουργικός
(leitourgikós)
— functioning and ready for use
Hindi:
क्रियाशील
(kriyāśīl)
— functioning and ready for use
Hungarian:
üzemképes
— functioning and ready for use
Indonesian:
operasional
— functioning and ready for use
Latin:
operābilis
— functioning and ready for use
Norwegian Bokmål:
operasjonell
— functioning and ready for use
Norwegian Bokmål:
operativ
— functioning and ready for use
Norwegian Nynorsk:
operasjonell
— functioning and ready for use
Norwegian Nynorsk:
operativ
— functioning and ready for use
Polish:
aktywny
— functioning and ready for use
Russian:
де́йствующий
(déjstvujuščij)
— functioning and ready for use
Spanish:
operacional
— functioning and ready for use
Spanish:
operatorio
— functioning and ready for use
Bulgarian:
действащ
(dejstvašt)
— effective or operative
Catalan:
operatiu
— effective or operative
Finnish:
toimiva
— effective or operative
Gothic:
𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐍃𐍄𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌲𐍃
(waurstweigs)
— effective or operative
Greek:
λειτουργικός
(leitourgikós)
— effective or operative
Hindi:
क्रियाशील
(kriyāśīl)
— effective or operative
Indonesian:
operasional
— effective or operative
Norwegian Bokmål:
operasjonell
— effective or operative
Norwegian Nynorsk:
operasjonell
— effective or operative
Russian:
де́йствующий
(déjstvujuščij)
— effective or operative
Spanish:
operacional
— effective or operative
Spanish:
operatorio
— effective or operative
Catalan:
operacional
— determined by means of practical measures
Finnish:
käytännöllinen
— determined by means of practical measures
French:
opérationnel
— determined by means of practical measures
Italian:
operazionale
— determined by means of practical measures
Portuguese:
operacional
— determined by means of practical measures
Spanish:
operacional
— determined by means of practical measures