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

At night, after the bookstore closed, he, sometimes with the help of friends, pushed the inoperable vehicle into the lot at Quirky and slept in it.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

New Start required the Navy to convert submarine missile tubes, making them inoperable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 15, 2026

But when she was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, she started losing weight and getting weaker.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

Around then, his father sold an inoperable Dodge Dart.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2026

Soon, with Gey anesthetized on the operating table, surgeons opened him up and found that the cancer was inoperable —growths covered his stomach, spleen, liver, and intestines.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Related Words

• impractical/impracticable
• infeasible
• unfeasible
• unworkable