inoperative

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   not working or functioning

   A severed cable left the elevator inoperative until the repair crew arrived.

2. 2
   adj

   having no legal force, practical effect, or influence

   The court ruled that the clause was inoperative because it conflicted with federal law.

Formed in English from the negative prefix in- + operative. Operative comes through Late Latin operativus from Latin operari ("to work"). Its two main uses preserve that contrast: something may fail to work physically or fail to produce legal or practical effect.

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