operational
adjective
op·er·a·tion·al
ˌä-pə-ˈrā-sh(ə-)nəl 
1
: of or relating to operation or to an operation
the operational gap between planning and production
2
: of, relating to, or based on operations
3
a
: of, engaged in, or connected with execution of military or naval operations in campaign or battle
b
: ready for or in condition to undertake a destined function
operationally
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of operational in a Sentence
The new airport should be fully operational by next year.
The computer network is now operational.
Recent Examples on the Web
That could, analysts said, start a price war for AI services, potentially pressuring tech companies such as OpenAI that are already losing billions of dollars each year due to the high operational costs of running services such as ChatGPT.
—
Aditya Soni and Zaheer Kachwala, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2025
While some have been forced to shut down, others have managed to survive by making difficult operational decisions or pivoting in a new direction.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
The base, which occupies 45 square miles, serves as an operational and logistical hub in the region, supporting a variety of missions including maritime security, humanitarian assistance, and joint operations.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025
Despite lacking formal defense commitments or previous joint operational experience, Moscow and Tehran developed comprehensive frameworks for military and diplomatic coordination, beginning with Russia’s military involvement in Syria in the fall of 2015.
—Nicole Grajewski, Foreign Affairs, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for operational 
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Aditya Soni and Zaheer Kachwala, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2025
While some have been forced to shut down, others have managed to survive by making difficult operational decisions or pivoting in a new direction.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
The base, which occupies 45 square miles, serves as an operational and logistical hub in the region, supporting a variety of missions including maritime security, humanitarian assistance, and joint operations.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025
Despite lacking formal defense commitments or previous joint operational experience, Moscow and Tehran developed comprehensive frameworks for military and diplomatic coordination, beginning with Russia’s military involvement in Syria in the fall of 2015.
—Nicole Grajewski, Foreign Affairs, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for operational
Dictionary Entries Near operational
Cite this Entry
“Operational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/operational. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
operational
adjective
op·er·a·tion·al
ˌäp-ə-ˈrā-shnəl
-shən-ᵊl
1
: of or relating to operation or an operation
2
: ready for operation
Legal Definition
operational
adjective
op·er·a·tion·al
ˌä-pə-ˈrā-shə-nəl
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