inoperable

IPA/ɪnˈɒpərəbl/
KK[ˌɪnˈɑpɚəbəl]IPA/ɪnˈɑːpərəbl/

inoperable — adjective

  • inoperablepositive
  • more inoperablecomparative
  • most inoperablesuperlative

1. describing a tumour, cancer, or diseased body part that cannot be removed or cur

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing a tumour, cancer, or diseased body part that cannot be removed or cured by performing a surgical operation.

Example

Theo's lung tumour was inoperable, so he received chemotherapy instead.

inoperable tumour — collocation with specific body part

When the cancer was found to be inoperable, the team focused on slowing its growth.

passive: found to be inoperable

Common collocations
  • inoperable tumour
  • inoperable cancer
  • inoperable brain tumour
  • diagnosed as inoperable
  • deem inoperable
  • inoperable condition
Synonyms
  • untreatable

    broader meaning — includes any kind of treatment, not just surgery

  • incurable

    no known cure at all, whereas 'inoperable' leaves open the possibility of non-surgical treatment

  • non-resectable

    specifically surgical term for a tumour that cannot be cut out; more technical and less common in everyday speech

Antonyms
  • operable

    direct opposite — can be treated by surgery

  • resectable

    surgical term; capable of being surgically removed

Grammar Patterns

inoperable + noun (tumour, cancer, condition)

Usage Note

Almost always used for tumours, cancers, or damaged organs. 'Inoperable' describes the condition, not the patient — avoid saying 'the patient is inoperable.' The opposite is 'operable.'

Common Mistakes

The patient is inoperable.
The patient has an inoperable tumour.
'inoperable' describes the medical condition, not the person.
Her broken leg is inoperable.
Her broken leg cannot be treated with surgery.
'inoperable' is used for growths and internal conditions, not for broken bones, which are 'non-surgical' or 'treated without surgery.'

2. describing equipment, a procedure, or a scheme that is not in a working conditio

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing equipment, a procedure, or a scheme that is not in a working condition or has become impractical to carry out.

Example

After the flood, the factory's control system was inoperable and production stopped.

system + was + inoperable — stative use with equipment

Gabriel tried to start the old generator, but the engine was inoperable.

Common collocations
  • inoperable system
  • inoperable equipment
  • inoperable elevator
  • rendered inoperable
  • left inoperable
  • completely inoperable
Synonyms
  • inoperative

    very similar in meaning; slightly more formal and more common for machines and official systems

  • non-functional

    more neutral and descriptive; common in technical writing

  • broken down

    informal; suggests a vehicle or large machine that has suddenly stopped working

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be + inoperable

leave + noun + inoperable

render + noun + inoperable

Usage Note

More formal than 'broken' or 'not working.' Common in technical reports, official notices, and news about infrastructure failures. The noun 'inoperability' exists but is very rare — prefer 'failure' or 'down time.'

Common Mistakes

The phone battery is inoperable.
The phone is inoperable.
'inoperable' describes the whole device or system, not a replaceable part.
My car is inoperable because I need to buy new tires.
The elevator is inoperable because a cable snapped.
'inoperable' suggests a serious functional failure, not a minor or routine issue.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a medical condition that cannot be fixed, but they differ in scope and context. 'Inoperable' is the narrowest — it refers specifically to conditions where surgery cannot help, though other treatments (chemotherapy, radiation) may still be possible. 'Untreatable' is broader: no effective treatment of any kind exists. 'Incurable' is broader still: the condition cannot be permanently eliminated, though symptoms can often be managed. 'Non-resectable' is a surgeon's technical term meaning a tumour cannot be cut out; it overlaps with 'inoperable' but is rarely used outside operating rooms. For example, a lung tumour might be 'inoperable' (too risky to cut out) but still 'treatable' with radiation. A late-stage cancer might be both 'inoperable' and 'incurable,' yet remain 'treatable' with palliative care.

inoperable ↗untreatable ↗incurable ↗non-resectable

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • completely inoperable
  • currently inoperable
  • medically inoperable
  • technically inoperable

Phrases

  • render something inoperable
  • leave something inoperable
  • be deemed inoperable
  • remain inoperable

Prepositions

  • inoperable due to
  • inoperable without

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'inoperable' was formed by adding the prefix 'in-' (meaning 'not') to 'operable', which comes from the Latin verb 'operari' (to work) via the suffix '-abilis' (able). Its earliest uses in English, dating from the mid-1800s, were medical — describing tumours that could not be removed by surgery. The broader sense ('a machine or system that cannot work') developed in the early 1900s as technology expanded.

First known use

1886

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1