Operational
adj.capable, hopefulprofessional
What it means
Functioning properly and ready for practical use.
Reach for it when describing a system as functioning and ready for practical use
All three water pumps were operational before the village festival.
Choose between these
6- playful
up and running
informal confirmation of live use fits
not when The idiom lacks test and capacity detail.
- everyday
functioning
the system is currently working
not when Functioning does not prove readiness under full load.
- everyday
preparation is complete for the next action
not when Ready equipment may not yet be switched on.
- professional
the service or process is running now
not when Active can mean enabled without being healthy.
- professional
commissioned
formal tests and handover have occurred
not when Commissioned is a process status, not continuous function.
- formal
serviceable
the equipment is adequate for use
not when Serviceable may mean only minimally acceptable.
Said against
3- inoperative
- offline
- nonfunctional
It naturally appears in
3- fully operational
All three water pumps were fully operational by noon.
- become operational
The backup clinic will become operational after inspection.
- remain operational
Two radio links remained operational throughout the storm.
Where this comes from
Operational should state tested capacity, dependencies, and time; a powered-on system may still be degraded or unsafe.
- wiktionary, English adjective, functioning and ready for use sense opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-27
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.