operational
Americanadjective
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able to function or be used; functional.
How soon will the new factory be operational?
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Military.
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of, relating to, or involved in military operations.
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on active service or combat duty.
All units of the command are operational.
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of or relating to operations or an operation.
adjective
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of or relating to an operation or operations
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in working order and ready for use
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military capable of, needed in, or actually involved in operations
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of operational
Explanation
If something is operational, it’s up and running and ready to go. If you’ve been waiting for a new skating rink to open, you’ll jump for joy when it’s finally operational. When something is operational, it's ready to use or is already in use. Don’t get on an elevator that’s not fully operational unless you like getting stuck. Any gadget being used is operational. If someone calls you and you pick up and talk, then both phones are operational. If the compost bin you’ve been working on is operational, go ahead and throw in the banana peels. Operational things are functional. If your skates are operational, lace up and go!
Vocabulary lists containing operational
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 13
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"CLEP Financial Accounting," Vocabulary from Chapter 14
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Universal has operational headquarters in Santa Monica and corporate headquarters in Hilversum, Netherlands, trading on the Euronext Amsterdam.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
The company’s AI division reported a $2.5 billion operational loss in the March quarter against revenue of $818 million, according to the company’s IPO filing.
From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026
“We deliver the data foundation enterprises rely on across clouds and across data types with the performance, reliability, and operational simplicity required for mission-critical workloads,” CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy said in the company’s February earnings call.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
The new detention centre in the Loon-Plage area is under construction and the Home Office said it was expected to be operational by the end of this year.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
Still, Fräulein Engel will probably appreciate the closure of hearing about Maddie’s operational flight to France.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
