operations research

noun

: the application of scientific and especially mathematical methods to the study and analysis of problems involving complex systems

called also operational research

Examples of operations research in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Cliff Stein, professor of industrial operations research and computer science at Columbia University, says all this attention on data centers shouldn’t come as a surprise. Michael Dobuski, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2024 After petroleum engineering, operations research and industrial engineering followed by electrical engineering and computer science are the next highest-paying majors, overall, both with higher starting salaries — over $100,000 — but lower mid-career pay. Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2024 The big picture: Foreign adversaries have a growing appetite for targeting the U.S. elections amid a tense geopolitical environment, Sean Minor, team lead for Recorded Future's influence operations research, said during a webinar this week. Sam Sabin, Axios, 16 Aug. 2024 For instance, a 2023 study from the HEA Group found people who study operations research earn annual incomes of about $112,000 four years after graduation, while music majors earn about $34,000 a year. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for operations research 

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of operations research was in 1943

Dictionary Entries Near operations research

Cite this Entry

“Operations research.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/operations%20research. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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