situational

adjective

sit·​u·​a·​tion·​al ˌsi-chə-ˈwā-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce situational (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or appropriate to a situation
2
: of or relating to situation ethics
situationally adverb

Examples of situational in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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These features are designed to help pilots identify threats, build situational awareness and coordinate operations in contested environments. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026 Poor situational management cost Philadelphia and Washington victories. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 This has capability to stay up for a significant period of time, provide real-time situational awareness for-- for everybody on the ground. — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026 Al Michaels, to me, was the master of that, and Mike Tirico, to me, is the master of that now, of all the play-by-play guys who are really dialed into clock, clock management, situational football. — Mike Sando, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for situational

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of situational was in 1867

Phrases Containing situational

Rhymes for situational

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Browse Nearby Words

situation
situational
situational irony
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Cite this Entry

“Situational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/situational. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

situational

adjective
sit·​u·​a·​tion·​al -shnəl, -shən-ᵊl How to pronounce situational (audio)
: of, relating to, or occurring in a particular set of circumstances
situational impotence
situational hypertension
situationally
-ē How to pronounce situational (audio)
adverb
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