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nonoperational

nonoperational

6.9
Not taking part in military actions
  • adjective
  • /ˌnɒnˌɒpəˈreɪʃənl/
  • Jargon
: no operativo
  • During peacetime, several military assets were declared nonoperational.

Examples

  • The nonoperational units were kept in reserve for future missions.

  • Many troops remained nonoperational while awaiting orders from high command.

  • More than a quarter of a century ago, Michael Howard pointed out that, in modern war, one can no longer ignore the nonoperational dimensions of strategy.

    Academic text (2003)

Synonyms

inactive
vsnonoperational
9 3.0

Not taking part in an activity, job, or group

refers to not being active in military operations or duties at present
nonbelligerent
vsnonoperational
  • Specialized
1 8.3

A country or group not taking part in a war

focuses on avoiding participation in military operations and activities rather than warfare
nonactive
vsnonoperational
1 3.7

Is not working or taking part now

means not engaged in military operations even if systems or units exist
noninvolved
vsnonoperational
5.5

Not taking part in something, for example a meeting or argument

applies specifically to not taking part in military actions or duties

Antonyms

operational
  • Specialized
34 5.1

About military action or missions

How Engaged

engaged
126 3.4
nonoperational
  • Jargon
6.9
uninvolved
6 4.5

Surface Forms

nonoperational positive

Morphology

nonoperational = operational (transparent) = non + operational

The military sense is a straightforward negation of 'operational' (not participating in operations) using the productive prefix 'non-'.

Etymology

Nonoperational is made of non- 'not' and operation 'planned action', a word you know from a 'military operation' or a hospital 'operation'. So, in a military sense, nonoperational means 'not taking part in military action'.