Definition of OPERATION
- ️Thu Feb 13 2025
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
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
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
9
: a usually small business or establishment
ran a struggling operation
Synonyms
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For more on the operation, check out the full article here.
—
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025
The search operation has been extensive, with multiple agencies involved.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
My reasons for feeling personally assailed by attacks and inferences that DEI has contributed negatively to the quality of operations and successes of organizations that have implemented DEI philosophy and training are many.
—Dr. Tony Lux, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025
The Liberty Police Department was aware of the ICE operation by late Friday afternoon, but department spokesperson Capt. Matt Kellogg was unable to confirm whether the federal agency had notified the local agency before or after the raid.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2025
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 19 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 13 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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