funcionante

Funcionante is a Spanish adjective and present participle derived from funcionar, meaning that something is in operation or capable of functioning. In technical, scientific, and formal contexts, it is used to describe equipment, systems, or devices that are currently operating or have been tested and are operative.

Etymology and form: The term comes from the verb funcionar with the suffix -ante, which forms adjectives indicating ongoing action or state. As an adjective, funcionante can modify a noun directly, as in una máquina funcionante, or be used in nominal phrases such as un equipo funcionante. It is distinct from funcionar, which is the verb, and from funcional, which more often conveys design or capability rather than current operation.

Usage and nuance: Funcionante emphasizes that something works at the moment or after testing, rather than merely being designed to work. It is commonly found in manuals, inspection reports, catalogs, and technical descriptions. In everyday language, alternatives such as funcionando or está funcionando are frequently preferred to indicate current operation, while funcional or operativo may stress capability or readiness.

Examples: Un motor funcionante, equipo funcionante, una versión funcionante del sistema. The phrase contrasts with inoperante or no funcionante, which indicate maloperation or failure.

See also: funcionamiento (operation), funcional (functional), operativo (operational), funcionando (present participle of funcionar).