English Reference
noun

implementation

n.
US /ˌɪmpɫəmɛnˈteɪʃən/ UK /ˌɪmplɪməntˈeɪʃən/ im·ple·men·ta·tion UK spelling implementation's, implementation's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    the act of starting to use a plan, system, or law.

    the process of putting a decision or plan into effect; execution. Often used in business or government contexts to describe the phase after planning.

    Simple

    The implementation of the new safety rules will begin next month.

    In context

    The successful implementation of the policy required close coordination between the local authorities and the central government.

    Usage

    Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a specific version of a system or a piece of software.

    a specific instance or version of a technical specification or design, particularly in computing and engineering.

    Simple

    The company is working on a faster implementation of the software.

    In context

    The developer noted that this particular implementation of the algorithm was optimized for mobile devices with limited processing power.

    Usage

    Commonly used as a countable noun in technical contexts.

Usage actual implementation · implementation of · successful implementation

The Home Office is not perfect, and is regularly criticised by campaigners for missteps over the implementation of the EU citizens chapter in the EU-UK withdrawal agreement.

The Guardian· 15 Aug 2026

On Friday, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem criticised the Lebanese authorities over the implementation of the framework, accusing them of pressuring the army while Israeli attacks continued.

Al Jazeera· 15 Aug 2026

From implement + -ation.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated