inoperable

American  

[in-op-er-uh-buhl, -op-ruh-buhl] / ɪnˈɒp ər ə bəl, -ˈɒp rə bəl /

adjective

1. not operable or practicable.

2. Medicine/Medical.  not admitting of a surgical operation because the pathological condition is not amenable to cure by surgery or because of undue risk.

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inoperable British  

/ -ˈɒprə-, ɪnˈɒpərəbəl /

adjective

1. incapable of being implemented or operated; unworkable

2. surgery not suitable for operation without risk, esp (of a malignant tumour) because metastasis has rendered surgery useless

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Other Word Forms

• inoperability noun
• inoperably adverb

Etymology

Origin of inoperable

First recorded in 1885–90; in- ³ + operable

Example Sentences

In the middle of harvest season, some agricultural machinery has been rendered inoperable without fuel, with the shortages having struck daily life outside the capital several weeks earlier.

From Barron's

It is also scrambling to raise funds for replacement parts from abroad, since so much equipment has been made inoperable by the strikes.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Gaza Power Plant has been inoperable due to a lack of fuel, and solar facilities have suffered widespread damage.

From BBC

State investigators, the lawsuit alleges, found that the grass was brown, weeds and dirt covered markers and water spigots were inoperable.

From Los Angeles Times

The outlets in his dormitory were inoperable, and because of the overcrowding and short-staffing, guards couldn’t take him to another area to plug them in, said his fiancee, Mildred Pierre.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• impractical/impracticable
• infeasible
• unfeasible
• unworkable