inoperable

adjective

in·​op·​er·​a·​ble (ˌ)in-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-bəl 

1

: not treatable or remediable by surgery

an inoperable brain tumor

2

: not functioning : inoperative

Synonyms

• down
• inoperative
• kaput
• kaputt
• malfunctioning
• nonfunctional
• nonfunctioning
• nonoperating

Examples of inoperable in a Sentence

a patient with inoperable cancer

The device makes the car inoperable when a key is not used to start it.

Recent Examples on the Web

The firings have rendered both boards essentially inoperable, without enough members to carry out many of their responsibilities. —Stephen Neukam, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025

Since the ban goes into effect on Jan. 19, the app could be inoperable as soon as 12:01 a.m. —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025

However, without updates or new downloads, the app will eventually become inoperable, according to filings from the Justice Department. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025

Debris had caused some of the removable barriers to become inoperable, the report said, even as construction was underway to install additional bollards along the same street. —Rhona Tarrant, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from French inopérable

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

inoperable

adjective

in·​op·​er·​a·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈäp-(ə-)rə-bəl 

1

: not treatable by surgery

an inoperable cancer

2

: not in working order : inoperative

Medical Definition

inoperable

adjective

in·​op·​er·​a·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈäp-(ə-)rə-bəl 

: not treatable or remediable by or suitable for surgery

an advanced and inoperable cancer

a developing cataract still inoperable

inoperability

(ˌ)in-ˌäp-(ə-)rə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural inoperabilities