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
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
But India, citing national security concerns, has publicly provided little evidence linking the attack to Pakistan, which denies involvement and says that Lashkar-e-Taiba is largely inoperative.
—
Zia Ur-Rehman, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
At the same time, Israel has acted to render what is left of Assad’s navy inoperative.
—Bassem Eid, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2025
Although there several election ballot scanners were inoperative at multiple polling locations in Cambria County in Pennsylvania, no widespread voting problems had been reported by the late afternoon.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Perhaps most notably, both sides deploy decoy vehicles—either inoperative derelicts or inflatable fakes—to draw enemy fire away from real vehicles.
—David Axe, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inoperative
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.
Zia Ur-Rehman, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
At the same time, Israel has acted to render what is left of Assad’s navy inoperative.
—Bassem Eid, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2025
Although there several election ballot scanners were inoperative at multiple polling locations in Cambria County in Pennsylvania, no widespread voting problems had been reported by the late afternoon.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Perhaps most notably, both sides deploy decoy vehicles—either inoperative derelicts or inflatable fakes—to draw enemy fire away from real vehicles.
—David Axe, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inoperative
Cite this Entry
“Inoperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inoperative. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share