inoperative

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪnˈɑp(ə)ɹətɪv/ UK /ɪnˈɒp(ə)ɹətɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #49371

Meanings

1

adj
not working or functioning

A severed cable left the elevator inoperative until the repair crew arrived.
2

adj
having no legal force, practical effect, or influence

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

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · not working or functioning nonfunctionalout of orderdisabled

2 adj · having no legal force,... ineffective invalid unenforceable

Opposites

operative functional effective valid

Word family

Derived forms inoperativeness

Related forms operate operation operative function

Etymology

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.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# inoperative

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈɑp(ə)ɹətɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈɒp(ə)ɹətɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 49371

## Meanings
1. not working or functioning
2. having no legal force, practical effect, or influence

## Examples
- A severed cable left the elevator inoperative until the repair crew arrived.
- The court ruled that the clause was inoperative because it conflicted with federal law.

## Synonyms
- nonfunctional
- out of order
- disabled
- ineffective
- invalid

## Antonyms
- operative
- functional
- effective
- valid

## Derived Forms
- inoperativeness

## Related Forms
- operate
- operation
- operative
- function

## Etymology
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.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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