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

• operating
• operative
• functioning

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

For family offices, this reduces operational risk while creating additional income diversification through conservation initiatives. —Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025

This system keeps the robot operational around the clock, which is crucial in production environments where downtime can be costly. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025

The current longest-running planetarium in the southern hemisphere is in Montevideo, Uruguay, operational since 1955. —Martin Bush, Space.com, 5 July 2025

The Pentagon previously assessed that the Fujian would be operational in the first half of 2025. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

operation + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing operational

• pre-operational

Rhymes for operational

• aspirational
• avocational
• calculational
• combinational
• computational
• conformational
• confrontational
• congregational
• conversational
• correlational
• deformational
• derivational

Kids 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 

: ministerial