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 The Israeli military has attempted to flood the tunnels with seawater before, in an effort to render Hamas' underground stockpiles of weapons inoperable and eliminate hiding spots for militants. Abigail Williams, NBC News, 30 Jan. 2024 Politics in the New York Region Dismissed Charges: A Republican councilwoman in Brooklyn who was arrested for carrying a pistol to a pro-Palestinian rally has had charges dismissed against her after it was found that the weapon was unloaded and inoperable. Stefanos Chen, New York Times, 5 Dec. 2023 Energy demand usually peaks at night when solar power is inoperable; thus, having a solar-only grid is a no-go. Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 He's played three seasons with a chronic toe injury that's inoperable and was listed on the injury report at various times this season with back, knee, ankle and toe pains. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 1 Feb. 2024 Francis was in fourth grade at the time, but seven years later the water fountains in question remain inoperable. Megan Christie, ABC News, 17 Nov. 2023 Advertisement Water and air pollution have worsened in recent years because of an inoperable wastewater plant in Baja California, a pipeline rupture, deferred maintenance and severe rainstorms. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2024 According to the Tuesday inspection report, the restaurant’s plumbing is inoperable. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 26 Jan. 2024 The civilian oversight board has reported for years that jail intercom systems are too often inoperable. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inoperable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 19 Mar. 2024.

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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