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Technical Vocabularynoun · /ˌdevˈɒps/

DevOps

In simple English

DevOps emerged as a response to the traditional separation between development teams (who write code) and operations teams (who maintain systems in production). The philosophy emphasizes automation, collaboration, and shared responsibility. In modern tech companies, DevOps practices include continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD), infrastructure as code, monitoring, and rapid feedback loops. DevOps engineers or teams work across the full software lifecycle—from development through testing to deployment and maintenance—ensuring that code moves smoothly from development environments to production with minimal manual intervention and maximum reliability.

Understanding the DevOps methodology, culture, and practices in software development and operations teams

At a glanceCEFR C1
Commonness5/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓We need to implement DevOps to improve our deployment pipeline.
✓The DevOps culture emphasizes automation and collaboration.
✓Our DevOps team manages both infrastructure and deployments.

Real examples

in a standup

"We are implementing DevOps practices this quarter to enable faster releases and reduce manual errors."

in a code review

"This change aligns with our DevOps goals of automating the build and deployment process."

in a team meeting

"Our DevOps strategy focuses on infrastructure as code and continuous monitoring in production."

Don't say this

Handle with care. DevOps is not a job role or tool—it is a methodology combining development and operations. Avoid using it as a verb or to describe a single person.

✕I am a DevOps.
✓I am a DevOps engineer or I work in DevOps.— DevOps is a methodology and culture, not a person. Use it as a noun to describe a role (DevOps engineer) or as an adjective.
✕We need to DevOps this application.
✓We need to apply DevOps practices to this application.— DevOps is not typically used as a verb. Instead, use phrases like apply DevOps, implement DevOps, or adopt DevOps practices.
✕DevOps is a tool we installed.
✓DevOps is a methodology and culture we adopted.— DevOps is not a single tool but a collection of practices, mindsets, and tools working together.

Other forms

noun

DevOps

"DevOps has transformed how we deliver software."

adjective

DevOps (attributive)

"Our DevOps engineer designed the CI/CD pipeline."

noun phrase

DevOps culture

"Building a DevOps culture requires breaking down silos between teams."

Often used with

implement DevOpsTo adopt or start using DevOps practices in an organization
DevOps engineerA person who specializes in automation, infrastructure, and deployment
DevOps practicesThe specific methods and techniques used within a DevOps approach
DevOps cultureThe mindset and values emphasizing collaboration and shared responsibility
DevOps pipelineThe automated workflow from code development through deployment

Similar words

continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD)A specific set of practices within DevOps, but not identical—DevOps is broader
site reliability engineering (SRE)Related but focuses more on system reliability; SRE often implements DevOps principles
agile operationsA similar philosophy but less specific than DevOps

Opposites

waterfall modelsiloed developmentmanual deployment

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your manager asks how you plan to speed up releases. Which response sounds most professional?

Complete the sentence

2. Our company hired a _______ _______ to manage infrastructure automation and continuous deployment.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses DevOps incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this in natural tech English using DevOps: The development and operations teams need to work together and automate everything so we can send code to customers more often.

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "devops" in a standup this week?

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