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
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.
Cars were found to be frozen and inoperable, and as of Wednesday, crews were working through the ice. Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025 NetBlocks, a company that tracks global internet censorship, said there was no indication that any internet service provider was blocking the app, and that its unavailability was purely through TikTok making the service inoperable for U.S. users. Kevin Collier, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2025 One section of the bell system cable was inoperable during the inspection about 400 feet into the shaft, state officials said in the inspection report. Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2025 Serving many different customers The advantages of such a platform include superior image quality, less congested orbits, and natural debris removal as inoperable satellites are pulled down into Earth's atmosphere and burnt up. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inoperable

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inoperable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inoperable. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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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