What is the Latin word for operation?

The usual Latin words for “operation” are efficiō, volō, impellō; also appellō, gerō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“operation” in Latin

efficiōto make out or work out; effect, execute, complete, accomplish, make, form, compose; to cause to occur, to bring about, volōto wish, to please; to want; to mean, to intend impellōto push, drive or strike against something; assail; to drive or push forward, set in motion, urge on, impel; to impel, i appellōto drive or move to; to land or put ashore gerōto carry, bear; to manage, conduct (e.g., one's affairs); to rule, govern

The English word operation itself goes back to Latin opus, through operātiō.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

operation

effectus (both the power of working possessed by anything, and the effect): vis (power). (The words are found in this connection and order.) vis et effectus: efficientia (working). Sometimes impulsus (impulsion): appulsus (approximation of an effectual means or cause, especially of the sun: then, generally, the working of one thing on another): res agenda, res gerenda or gesta (thing to be done, undertaking): plan of operations, rei agendae ordo (general term): omnis belli ratio: totius belli ratio: belli administrandi ratio (in war): to form his plan of operations, rei agendae ordinem componere: totius belli rationem describere: belli futuri consilia ordinare (Liv.): surgical operation, *curatio, quae scalpellum desiderat: operations, sectiones punctionesque (Plin.). To perform an operation, secare aliquem; scalpellum admovere or adhibere alicui rei (dative, of the limb, etc., operated upon): manum admovere or injicere: to make an operation necessary, curationem ex manu postulare (Cels.): an operation is necessary, morbus curationem ex manu postulat (after Cels.): to begin an operation, manum injicere (Cels.): to perform an operation for the eyes, secando mederi suffusioni oculorum: when he was undergoing an operation, cum secaretur (Cic.): Caesarean operation; Vid: CESAREAN.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for operation?: The usual Latin words for “operation” are efficiō, volō, impellō; also appellō, gerō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.