Operational
ˌɒpəˈreɪʃənəl
Definitions
2 meaningsRelating to or involved in the actual running or working of something, such as a business, system, or piece of equipment.
ˌɒpəˈreɪʃənəl
Relating to or being in operation; functioning.
The new software is now fully operational.
💡 Simply: Imagine a factory: 'Operational' means everything's working, like the machines, the people, all the parts of the factory are running as they should. It’s ready to make things.
👶 For kids: When something is operational, it means it's working and ready to be used, like a toy car that has batteries and is ready to go!
More Examples
The hospital needs to ensure all emergency equipment is operational at all times.
Following the repairs, the system is back to an operational state.
How It's Used
"The company needs to improve its operational efficiency."
"The troops are currently engaged in operational duties."
"The system is fully operational after the upgrade."
Relating to or involving practical use, implementation, or application rather than theory.
ˌɒpəˈreɪʃənəl
Suitable for or concerned with actual use or practice; practical.
The company created an operational plan to improve its workflow.
💡 Simply: 'Operational' here means something is ready to be used or put into action. It's the practical side of things, like the part of the plan that you can actually do.
👶 For kids: If you're building something, and it's ready to use, it's operational - ready to be used.
More Examples
The military needs to conduct operational exercises to prepare.
The research provided an operational framework for future projects.
How It's Used
"The engineers developed an operational solution for the power outage."
"The project required operational planning."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
Operational Excellence
A business management philosophy that emphasizes continuous improvement and efficiency in all aspects of an organization's operations.
"Companies striving for operational excellence often implement lean methodologies."
Operational risk
The risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems or from external events.
"Financial institutions must carefully assess and manage operational risk."
From Latin 'operatio' (action, operation), formed with the suffix '-al' indicating relating to or characterized by.
Used from the early 19th century, originally in military and engineering contexts, to describe something in a state of being used or ready for use.
Memory tip
Think of a plane: is it ready to fly? is it in its operational state?
Word Origin
"action, operation"