inoperative
Americanadjective
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not operative; not in operation.
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without effect.
inoperative remedies.
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no longer in effect; void; canceled.
The earlier rule is now inoperative.
adjective
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not operating
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useless or ineffective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inoperative
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Anyone who said the fund was inoperative because of Blanche’s informal say-so is either ignorant or lying.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
Its combat fleet also includes Russian MiG-29s and Belarusian Sukhoi Su-27s, most of which are inoperative or in reserve.
From Barron's ● Apr. 22, 2026
Goldman previously thought the Strait might be inoperative for about half that time.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 12, 2026
Kia said owners have received multiple notices on the recall by mail and that when inoperative vehicles are excluded, roughly 35% remain uncompleted.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 8, 2025
And with the phones down, with 911 inoperative, there was virtually no way to alert anyone.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
