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
Synonyms
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
Instead, the tools his dealerships rely on to make sales, keep track of inventory and manage customer relationships, have been inoperative for more than one week — throwing a wrench in his vehicle and auto parts sales and repairs business.
—
Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 27 June 2024
For elderly and disabled residents in particular, a busted elevator or an inoperative boiler are not just numbers on a spreadsheet, but a risk to daily life.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2024
And Mexico broke ground earlier this year on the rehabilitation of the San Antonio de los Buenos plant in Punta Bandera, a facility in Baja California that has been inoperative for years.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024
Our test Ocean was plagued with squeaky pedals, an inoperative California mode (where the EV drops all its windows save the windscreen) forcing a switch in car mid-test, and poor handling that was supposedly to be fixed with a software update.
—Jeremy White, WIRED, 18 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inoperative 
Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 27 June 2024
For elderly and disabled residents in particular, a busted elevator or an inoperative boiler are not just numbers on a spreadsheet, but a risk to daily life.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2024
And Mexico broke ground earlier this year on the rehabilitation of the San Antonio de los Buenos plant in Punta Bandera, a facility in Baja California that has been inoperative for years.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024
Our test Ocean was plagued with squeaky pedals, an inoperative California mode (where the EV drops all its windows save the windscreen) forcing a switch in car mid-test, and poor handling that was supposedly to be fixed with a software update.
—Jeremy White, WIRED, 18 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inoperative
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inoperative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near inoperative
Cite this Entry
“Inoperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inoperative. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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
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