operationallyadv.
/ˌɒpəˈreɪʃn̩əli/, /ˌɒpəˈreɪʃn̩l̩i/, /ˌɒpəˈreɪʃənl̩i/, /ˌɒpəˈreɪʃ(ə)nəli/, U.S. /ˌɑpəˈreɪʃ(ə)nəli/ In terms of or as regards (military) operation(s). Also: (Philosophy) in terms of or as regards the operations required to define a concept or term (cf. operationalism n.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > [adverb]
operationally1925
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > empiricism > [adverb]
necessarily1664
positivistically1890
phenomenologically1891
phenomenalistically1909
nomically1921
operationally1925
reductionistically1950
hypothetico-deductively1953
metascientifically1954
1925 Times 3 Sept. 12/2 Operationally a flying boat may be treated precisely as a ship.
1934 Times 26 June (Air Suppl.) p. xvii/2 It was decided, therefore, shortly after the War ended that the third Service, the Royal Air Force, should be operationally responsible for the units..engaged in the air defence of the country.
1965 J. D. North Measure of Universe viii. 152 The belief that any theory must be provided with a ‘sound conceptual foundation’ is..often closely allied to the doctrine of operationalism, coinciding with that variant form according to which every concept must be explicitly ‘operationally defined’, even if only hypothetically so.
1972 Science 5 May 545/3 It is operationally impossible to distinguish between selection at a single locus and selection for closely linked genes.
1995 Times 8 July 21/1 He was determined to continue flying operationally and subsequently became a bomber pilot.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1925