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 inoperable driver’s-side window was my fault (rolling it down when it was iced over), as was whatever went wrong with the front right wheel (hit a curb at high velocity). —Brendan Leonard, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2024

For years after the hospital closed, town residents reported eerie lights and noises emanating from the inoperable elevator. —Roger Naylor and Scott Craven, The Arizona Republic, 18 Oct. 2024

The comprehensive inspection completed last week detailed more than 23 pages of broken doors, inoperable water heaters, pest infestations and other issues across the property, according to a copy of the report obtained by The Post. —Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2024

Those issues included inoperable radios -- in one instance, the head of the Pittsburgh Field Office gave his radio to the lead advance agent on the ground because his radio wasn’t working. —Luke Barr, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2024

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