nonoperational
- adjective
- /ˌnɒnˌɒpəˈreɪʃənl/
- Jargon
- During peacetime, several military assets were declared nonoperational.
Examples
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The nonoperational units were kept in reserve for future missions.
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Many troops remained nonoperational while awaiting orders from high command.
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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
Not taking part in an activity, job, or group
A country or group not taking part in a war
Not taking part in something, for example a meeting or argument
Is not working or taking part now
Antonyms
How Engaged
Surface Forms
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'.