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

But the remaining chargers were inoperable 31% of the time, Hartmann said in testimony on Hettleman’s bill. —Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025

The Justice Department noted in court filings that this will eventually render the app inoperable. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025

This includes setting up a home charger, which sometimes requires an electrical upgrade; calculating routes for longer distance travel to find where charging is available; searching for working public chargers when charging stations are jammed or chargers are inoperable. —Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025

The experimental Type 092 is now inoperable and is replaced by its more advanced successor, the Type 094, the Federation of American Scientists wrote in a report in March. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from French inopérable

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inoperable

• operable
• interoperable

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