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Glite Dictionary
overt operation

overt operation

5.5
An activity by military or intelligence groups done openly, not secretly
  • noun
  • /oʊˈvɜrt ˌɑpəˈreɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : operación abierta
  • Young notes a fourth overt operation in October 1983 as well as a covert sabotage mission of the Beira-Mutare railway in which Lieutenant Gingles was killed.

Examples

  • They haven't had the power to start wars or conduct overt operations.

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  • The government announced that it would carry out an overt operation to ensure public safety during the event.

  • Troops were deployed for an overt operation to demonstrate military strength in the region.

  • The intelligence agency preferred overt operations to build trust with the local community.

Antonyms

covert operation
23 5.7

A secret action by a government or army to avoid being noticed

How Open

overt operation
  • Specialized
5.5
clandestine operation
  • Formal
3 7.7

Surface Forms

overt operation singular
overt operations plural

Morphology

overt + operation

The meaning 'an intelligence or military activity carried out openly' is directly derivable from combining 'overt' (not secret; clearly visible) with 'operation' (a planned military or police activity). This is a straightforward adjective+noun compositional pattern found cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The noun overt operation comes from a simple image: overt means 'open' and operation means a planned action or mission. Imagine agents working in front of cameras and people watching, not hiding, so overt operation means an activity done openly, not 'secret'.