inoperative

adjective

in·​op·​er·​a·​tive (ˌ)in-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv 

-ˈä-pə-ˌrā-

: not operative: such as

a

: not functioning

an inoperative clock

b

: having no effect or force

an inoperative law

inoperativeness noun

Synonyms

• dead
• dormant
• fallow
• free
• idle
• inactive
• inert
• latent
• off
• unused
• vacant

Examples of inoperative in a Sentence

The accident had rendered the vehicle inoperative.

With the new federal law in place, the state law has become inoperative.

Recent Examples on the Web

The undercover sources were with him every step of the way, picking him up from his home, traveling to Nashville, and providing him with inoperative explosives, prosecutors said. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024

On Tuesday morning, several election ballot scanners were inoperative at multiple polling locations in Pennsylvania. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

By June 73 per cent of the country’s thermal power generating units had been rendered inoperative. —David Hambling, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

All of that will be instantly inoperative as of January 21, 2025, if not right after Election Day. —Rich Lowry, National Review, 3 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1631, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

inoperative

adjective

in·​op·​er·​a·​tive (ˈ)in-ˈäp-(ə-)rət-iv 

-ˈäp-ə-ˌrāt-

: not functioning : producing no effect

an inoperative law

Legal Definition

inoperative

adjective

in·​op·​er·​a·​tive i-ˈnä-pə-rə-tiv 

: having no force or effect

an inoperative will