special military operation

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

A military situation resembling a war; especially the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Pronunciation

spĕsh′əl mĭl′ĭ-tĕr′ē ŏp′ə-rā′shən /ˈspɛʃ.əl ˈmɪl.ɪˌtɛɹ.iː ˌɒp.əˈɹeɪ̯.ʃən/ /ˈspɛʃ.əl ˈmɪl.ɪˌtɛɹ.iː ˌɔːp.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ /ˈspɛʃ.əl ˈmɪl.ɪˌtɛɹ.i ˌɑp.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ /ˈspɛʃ.əl ˈmɪl.ɪˌtɛɹ.i ˌɔp.əˈɹeɪ̯.ʃən/ /ˈspɛʃ.əl ˈmɪl.ɪˌtɛɹ.i ˌɒp.əˈɹeɪ̯.ʃən/ /ˈspeʃ.əl ˈmɪl.ɪˌteɹ.iː ˌɔp.əˈɹæɪ̯.ʃən/ /ˈspeʃ.əl ˈməl.əˌteɹ.iː ˌɒp.əˈɹæɪ̯.ʃən/ /ˈspɛʃ.əl ˈmɪl.ɪˌtɛɹ.i ˌɔp.əˈɹe.ʃən/ /ˈspɛʃ.i̯al ˈmɪl.ɪˌʈɛɾ.iː ˌɔp.eˈɾeː.ʃi̯on/

Word forms

special military operation special military operations

Etymology

Calque of Russian специа́льная вое́нная опера́ция (speciálʹnaja vojénnaja operácija), a phrase used by Vladimir Putin upon launching an attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2022: In this regard, in accordance with Article 51 of Part 7 of the UN Charter, with the approval of the Federation Council of Russia and in pursuance of the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance ratified by the Duma on 22 February with the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic, I decided to launch a special military operation.

Synonyms

SMO SVO

Related words

nonwar police action

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