theater of operations

A subarea within a theater of war defined by the geographic combatant commander required to conduct or support specific combat operations. Different theaters of operations within the same theater of war will normally be geographically separate and focused on different enemy forces. Theaters of operations are usually of significant size, allowing for operations over extended periods of time. Also called TO. See also theater of war.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

theater of operations - a region in which active military operations are in progress; "the army was in the field awaiting action"; "he served in the Vietnam theater for three years" field of operations, theatre of operations, theater, theatre, field armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker" theater of war, theatre of war - the entire land, sea, and air area that may become or is directly involved in war operations region - a large indefinite location on the surface of the Earth; "penguins inhabit the polar regions" combat area, combat zone - a military area where combat forces operate