From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishinoperativein‧op‧e‧ra‧tive /ɪnˈɒpərətɪv $ ɪnˈɑː-/ adjective formal 1 TBROKENa machine that is inoperative is not working, or is not in working condition2 SCLa system or a law that is inoperative does not work anymore or cannot be made to work
Examples from the Corpus
inoperative• Before that, however, periods of extension during the Permian and Mesozoic would presumably have rendered this sealing mechanism inoperative.• Such actions did not infringe the Corrupt Practice Acts but they did make them virtually inoperative.• The recognition codes which the Simonova was broadcasting should not in theory render any platform completely inoperative.• To the extent that these prudential rules vary the Right of Establishment tends to be inoperative.• We can conjure them away only by observing things under conditions in which the cues to three-dimensional perception are inoperative.• When the machine is playing back, the manual switch is inoperative.• If these are inoperative, a volcano will not erupt again.• He was, as a result, inoperative with women.From Longman Business Dictionaryinoperativein‧op‧e‧ra‧tive /ɪnˈɒpərətɪvɪnˈɑː-/ adjective formal1MANUFACTURINGa machine or piece of equipment that is inoperative is not working or is not in a good enough condition to workA power cut rendered 1000 ATMs inoperative.2LAWif a law, rule etc is inoperative, it is no longer used, or it is not used in a situation when normally it would be usedIf the amount concerned is $50 or less, this clause will be inoperative. 