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
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
These are not tools that belong in a corporate leader’s operational playbook, but products of necessity arising from the absence of reliable governance.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
And operational readiness is shaped not only by training plans, exercises and deployments, but also by the everyday systems, people and services that support our sailors and their families.
—Robert J Bianchi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
Flight tests for the Sentinel are scheduled for 2027, with initial operational capability expected in the early 2030s.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
By 1896, the offshore rigs were operational; their pipes extended down through several metres of water and a couple hundred more of seafloor sediment.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for operational
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Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
And operational readiness is shaped not only by training plans, exercises and deployments, but also by the everyday systems, people and services that support our sailors and their families.
—Robert J Bianchi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
Flight tests for the Sentinel are scheduled for 2027, with initial operational capability expected in the early 2030s.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
By 1896, the offshore rigs were operational; their pipes extended down through several metres of water and a couple hundred more of seafloor sediment.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for operational
Cite this Entry
“Operational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/operational. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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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