inoperative

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UK/ɪnˈɒp(ə)ɹətɪv/US/ɪnˈɑp(ə)ɹətɪv/

adjective

Not working or functioning; either idle or broken.

Similar
downdeaddefunct
Opposite
operative
OriginEnglish operative ← Middle English in- ← Latin in- →
Less commonScrabble 16
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Word of the Day · Jun 5, 2024

Meanings

adjectiveinoperative (not comparable)
  1. not comparableNot working or functioning; either idle or broken.

    Let me see if I can dial this number right quick / "I am sorry, the government you have elected is inoperative / Click. Inoperative"

    1974, “H2Ogate Blues”, in Winter in America, performed by Gil Scott-Heron
    1 more example

    RSSB's report, released on September 23 2004, revealed that that the parking brakes on neither trolley had applied. It also revealed how the fixed piping carrying hydraulic pressure to the brake units on both had been severed and blanked off. This meant the parking brakes would not have been able to be released from the RRV. Washers to provide a clamping force to keep the parking brakes on were also missing, rendering them "completely inoperative".

    2024 February 7, Greg Morse, “Tebay tragedy and track safety”, in RAIL, number 1002, page 41
  2. not comparablelawNo longer legally binding.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivenot working or taking effect

Similar
downdeaddefunct
Opposite
operative
Also see
badcrockeddeaddefunctdowninoperationalkaputnonworking

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Italic*n̥-
  4. Latinin-
  5. Middle Englishin-
  6. Englishin-
  7. Englishoperative
  8. Englishinoperative

From in- + operative.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian бездеен, недействащ
  • бездеен (bezdeen)not working or functioning
  • недействащ (nedejstvašt)not working or functioning
Catalan inoperant
  • inoperantnot working or functioning
Esperanto nefunkcianta, nefunkciantaj
  • nefunkciantanot working or functioning
  • nefunkciantajnot working or functioning
Finnish käyttämätön, epäkunnossa
  • käyttämätönnot working or functioning
  • epäkunnossanot working or functioning
  • rikkinot working or functioning
  • toimimatonnot working or functioning
  • käyttökelvotonnot working or functioning
  • toimintakyvytönnot working or functioning
  • kumottuno longer legally binding
  • päättynytno longer legally binding
French inopérant
  • inopérantnot working or functioning
German defekt
  • defektnot working or functioning
Latin inoperāns
  • inoperānsnot working or functioning
Portuguese inoperante
  • inoperantenot working or functioning
Russian неде́йствующий, нефункциони́рующий
  • неде́йствующий (nedéjstvujuščij)not working or functioning
  • нефункциони́рующий (nefunkcionírujuščij)not working or functioning
  • неиспра́вный (neisprávnyj)not working or functioning
  • нерабо́тающий (nerabótajuščij)not working or functioning
  • неде́йствующий (nedéjstvujuščij)no longer legally binding
  • недействи́тельный (nedejstvítelʹnyj)no longer legally binding
  • не име́ющий си́лыno longer legally binding
Spanish inoperante, inoperativo
  • inoperantenot working or functioning
  • inoperativonot working or functioning
Cite this entry
APA

inoperative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inoperative

MLA

“inoperative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inoperative. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inoperative,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inoperative.

Source: inoperative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.