inoperable

adjective

in·​op·​er·​a·​ble (ˌ)in-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce inoperable (audio)
1
: not treatable or remediable by surgery
an inoperable brain tumor
2
: not functioning : inoperative

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All told, those properties were issued roughly 50 violations, according to city records, for violations including overgrowth, junk and inoperable cars parked on the properties. Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025 The study at six hospitals across Japan is designed to give hope to patients, their families and healthcare professionals, and will follow the survival outcomes of 90 patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer, with 30 undergoing chemotherapy alone and 60 undergoing chemotherapy and HIFU therapy. Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025 More than likely, TikTok would just become inoperable on your phone as more and more services drop support. Chloe Albanesius, PCMAG, 9 Jan. 2025 Some residents and business owners reported that beads frequently fall into the tracks rendering the devices temporarily inoperable. NBC News, 4 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for inoperable 

Word History

Etymology

probably from French inopérable

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inoperable was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near inoperable

Cite this Entry

“Inoperable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inoperable. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

inoperable

adjective
in·​op·​er·​a·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈäp-(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce inoperable (audio)
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 How to pronounce inoperable (audio)
: not treatable or remediable by or suitable for surgery
an advanced and inoperable cancer
a developing cataract still inoperable
inoperability noun
plural inoperabilities

More from Merriam-Webster on inoperable

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