non-operational

/ˌnɒn.ɒp.ərˈeɪ.ʃən.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌnɑːn.ɑː.pəˈreɪ.ʃən.əl/ (ame, ipa)

non-operational — adjective

1. describes a machine, system, or facility that is currently out of service — brok

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a machine, system, or facility that is currently out of service — broken down, switched off, or otherwise unable to perform its normal function.

例句

The hospital's main elevator has been non-operational since Tuesday after a power surge.

attributive: non-operational + noun (machine/facility)

Imran reported that the security cameras outside the warehouse were non-operational all weekend.

predicative: be + non-operational

同義詞
  • out of service

    very close in meaning; slightly less formal and often used on signs

  • inoperative

    even more formal, common in technical or legal writing

  • broken down

    informal; suggests a sudden mechanical failure

反義詞

文法句型

non-operational + noun

be + non-operational

用法筆記

Frequently used about institutional or public equipment (lifts, cameras, lights, machines, systems) rather than small household items — for a kettle or a phone, native speakers prefer 'broken' or 'not working'.

常見錯誤

❌My pen is non-operational.
✅My pen is not working.
💡'non-operational' sounds odd for small everyday objects; reserve it for equipment, machines, or facilities.

2. in business and accounting, describes income, costs, or assets that are not conn

2.形容詞C1
釋義

in business and accounting, describes income, costs, or assets that are not connected with what a company mainly does to earn money — for example, profit from selling a building rather than from selling its products.

例句

The bakery chain reported strong non-operational income last quarter after selling its old delivery vans.

collocation: non-operational income

Analysts asked the airline to separate its non-operational expenses from regular fuel and crew costs.

collocation: non-operational expenses, contrasted with core costs

同義詞
  • non-core

    covers any activity outside the company's main business, not only finance items

  • extraordinary

    in accounting, refers specifically to one-off items outside normal operations

反義詞
  • operational

    connected with the main, day-to-day business activity

  • core

    central to what the company normally does

文法句型

non-operational + noun (cost/income/asset)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: here the word is purely a business-accounting label, never a comment on whether equipment works. Always attributive with finance nouns (income, expenses, assets, losses).

常見錯誤

❌The company's profit was non-operational this quarter.
✅The company's non-operational profit was higher this quarter.
💡used as a label on the noun, not as a predicate describing the company's overall performance.