operational
/ˌɒp.əˈreɪ.ʃən.əl/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
Working or able to work. It can also mean ready to be used in a real situation.
- The machine is now operational.
- The new system is fully operational.
- 2.
Relating to the practical work of running a business, plan, or organization.
- They made several operational changes.
- The operational team met every morning.
Adinary Nuance
Operational is often closer to “working” or “ready for use” than to simple “useful.” It is more formal than everyday words like “working” or “functional.” In business or management, it often means connected to day-to-day practical work, not just theory.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vận hành
- Spanish
- operativo
- Chinese
- 可运行的
- Japanese
- 運用上の
- Korean
- 운영상의
Etymology
Operational comes from operation, which entered English from Latin operatio, meaning “a working” or “a doing.” It became common in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially in business and military use.
Common phrases
operational costoperational efficiencyfully operationaloperational plan
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is operational a formal word?
- Yes, it is fairly formal and common in business, technical, and academic English.
- What is the difference between operational and functional?
- Functional means something works. Operational often means it is ready and working in a real situation.
- Can I use operational for a machine?
- Yes. It is very common for machines, systems, and equipment that are working properly.
- Is operational used in business writing?
- Yes. It often describes costs, plans, teams, and day-to-day work in a company.