inoperative

Etymology

From in- +‎ operative.

Pronunciation

This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA or enPR then please add some!

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

inoperative (not comparable)

1. Not working or functioning; either idle or broken.
   • 1974, “H2Ogate Blues”, in Winter in America, performed by Gil Scott-Heron:

     Let me see if I can dial this number right quick / "I am sorry, the government you have elected is inoperative / Click. Inoperative"

   • 2024 February 7, Greg Morse, “Tebay tragedy and track safety”, in RAIL, number 1002, page 41:

     RSSB's report, released on September 23 2004, revealed that that the parking brakes on neither trolley had applied. It also revealed how the fixed piping carrying hydraulic pressure to the brake units on both had been severed and blanked off. This meant the parking brakes would not have been able to be released from the RRV. Washers to provide a clamping force to keep the parking brakes on were also missing, rendering them "completely inoperative".

1. (law) No longer legally binding.