Plain English Meaning
An official FAA-issued rulebook tailored to one specific operator. It spells out what that operator is allowed to fly, where they can fly it, what equipment they must use, and what procedures they must follow.
Full Definition
A formal set of authorizations, limitations, and procedures issued by the FAA to a specific operator (such as an airline, charter company, or other certificate holder) that define exactly what that operator is approved to do, where, how, and with what equipment. Operations Specifications are part of the operator's certificate and carry the force of regulation for that operator.
Context Anchor
In instrument flying and Required Navigation Performance discussions, OpsSpecs are often where an operator’s approval for certain navigation procedures is documented.
Derivation
From 'operations' (the activities of running flights) and 'specifications' (a detailed written list of requirements). Together: a detailed written list of what an operator's activities are approved to look like.