op·er·a·tion·al·ism
ˌä-pə-ˈrā-sh(ə-)nə-ˌli-zəm 
: a view that the concepts or terms used in nonanalytic scientific statements must be definable in terms of identifiable and repeatable operations
plural -s
: an advocate or adherent of operationalism
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Quanta Magazine, 9 Mar. 2021
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Noun
Smith and other foes of operationalism complain that such definitions rely on what a group of people generally agree on.
—Quanta Magazine, 9 Mar. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Operationalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/operationalism. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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