How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. R. W. Holder. 2014.
inoperative — in‧op‧e‧ra‧tive [ɪnˈɒprətɪv ǁ ɪnˈɑː ] adjective formal 1. MANUFACTURING a machine or piece of equipment that is inoperative is not working or is not in a good enough condition to work: • A power cut rendered 1000 ATMs inoperative. 2 … Financial and business terms
inoperative — in·op·er·a·tive /i nä pə rə tiv/ adj: having no force or effect an inoperative will Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. inoperative … Law dictionary
Inoperative — In*op er*a*tive, a. [Pref. in not + operative.] Not operative; not active; producing no effects; as, laws renderd inoperative by neglect; inoperative remedies or processes … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
inoperative — 1630s, from IN (Cf. in ) (1) not, opposite of + OPERATIVE (Cf. operative) … Etymology dictionary
inoperative — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ not working or taking effect … English terms dictionary
inoperative — [in äp′ər ə tiv, in äp′ər āt΄iv] adj. not operative; not working; not functioning; without effect … English World dictionary
inoperative — adjective Date: circa 1631 not operative: as a. not functioning < an inoperative clock > b. having no effect or force < an inoperative law > • inoperativeness noun … New Collegiate Dictionary
inoperative — inoperativeness, n. /in op euhr euh tiv, op reuh tiv, op euh ray tiv/, adj. 1. not operative; not in operation. 2. without effect: inoperative remedies. 3. no longer in effect; void; canceled: The earlier rule is now inoperative. [1625 35; IN 3 + … Universalium
inoperative — in|op|e|ra|tive [ınˈɔpərətıv US ınˈa: ] adj formal 1.) a machine that is inoperative is not working, or is not in working condition 2.) a system or a law that is inoperative does not work any more or cannot be made to work … Dictionary of contemporary English
inoperative — adjective formal 1 a machine that is inoperative is not working, or is not in working condition 2 a system or a law that is inoperative is not working or cannot be made to work … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
inoperative — adjective 1) the fan is inoperative Syn: defective, out of order, out of service, down, unserviceable, unusable, inoperable, bust/busted, out of action, shot, broken, faulty, on the blink, on the fritz, out of commission, acting up … Thesaurus of popular words
