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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey and Daniel Baxter, chief operations officer of the elections department, said security will be stepped up inside and outside Huntington Place in Detroit in the event of a disturbance or if anyone violates or deviates from Michigan election law. Dana Afana, Detroit Free Press, 1 Nov. 2024 The county closed shelter operations after the pandemic and is converting the site to permanent housing, another project that will be grandfathered in under the law. Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024 Following Iran's first direct attack on Israel in April, the IAF launched a symbolic operation, targeting an S-300 radar unit near Isfahan, south of Tehran. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 That country’s president, Félix Tshisekedi, visited HB’s operation in Botswana last year to study its model. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for operation 

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 12 Nov. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on operation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!