operation

noun

op·​er·​a·​tion ˌä-pə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce operation (audio)
1
: performance of a practical work or of something involving the practical application of principles or processes
Practice until you can go through the whole operation without hesitation or thinking.
2
a
: an exertion of power or influence
the operation of a drug
b
: the quality or state of being functional or operative
The plant is now in operation.
c
: a method or manner of functioning
a machine of very simple operation
3
: efficacy, potency
archaic except in legal usage
4
: a procedure performed on a living body usually with instruments especially for the repair of damage or defect or the restoration of health
needed an operation to remove his appendix
5
: any of various mathematical or logical processes (such as addition) of deriving one entity from others according to a rule
Multiplication is one mathematical operation.
6
a
: a usually military action, mission, or maneuver including its planning and execution
military operations for a large-scale invasion
b
operations plural : the office on the flight line of an airfield where pilots file clearance for flights and where flying from the field is controlled
c
operations plural : the agency of an organization charged with carrying on the principal planning and operating functions of a headquarters and its subordinate units
7
: a business transaction especially when speculative
continued his operations in cotton futures
8
: a single step performed by a computer in the execution of a program (see program entry 1 sense 6a)
9
: a usually small business or establishment
ran a struggling operation

Examples of operation in a Sentence

The family runs a small farming operation. The company is a billion-dollar operation.
Recent Examples on the Web Ireton was Kenta Maeda’s interpreter for most of his time with the Dodgers and then moved into a different role as the team’s manager of performance operations. Bill Plunkett, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2024 Interpreter changes In the wake of Mizuhara’s firing, Roberts said that Will Ireton, the team’s manager of performance operations, will serve as Ohtani’s interpreter in the interim. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 The project is expected to support more than 1,300 direct and indirect jobs and create $3 billion in regional and local economic activity in its first 10 years of operation. Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2024 The answer to cleaning up climate pollution from the corporate livestock industry isn’t through supporting gas operations and ultimately enabling its expansion. Darvin Bentlage, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 Before its board voted to close Red Bike, the group had paused operations to shore up its finances, rocked by the loss of its largest corporate sponsor last year. The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024 Following the lockdown, the hospital has since resumed normal operations. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2024 Morgan Stanley analysts led by Erik Woodring said in a January note that if IBM’s AI operations emulate the payoff of its other big bet, its 2019 Red Hat acquisition, the business could be worth multiple billions in just four years. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024 Ryan Koss, the Vermont driver charged with gross negligent operation in Williams’ death, initially pleaded not guilty to the charge in September 2023. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'operation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English operacion "work, action, procedure performed on a body, functioning," borrowed from Medieval Latin operātiōn-, operātiō, going back to Latin, "application of effort, functioning (of natural forces)," from operārī "to busy oneself, be at work" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at operate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of operation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near operation

Cite this Entry

“Operation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/operation. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

operation

noun
op·​er·​a·​tion ˌäp-ə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce operation (audio)
1
: the act, process, method, or result of operating
does the whole operation without stopping
the operation of a drug
2
: the quality or state of being able to work or function
put a factory into operation
3
: a procedure performed on a living body usually with medical instruments especially to restore health or repair damage or defect
4
: a mathematical or logical process (as addition or multiplication) for getting one mathematical expression from others according to a rule
5
: the process of putting military or naval forces into action
6
: a single step in a computer program
7
: a usually small business or establishment

Medical Definition

operation

noun
op·​er·​a·​tion ˌäp-ə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce operation (audio)
: a procedure performed on a living body usually with instruments for the repair of damage or the restoration of health and especially one that involves incision, excision, or suturing

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