Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

inoperative

/ɪnˈɑp(ə)ɹətɪv/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.38 in modern English

Syllables: in-op-er-a-tive
IPA: /ɪnˈɑp(ə)ɹətɪv/

16

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

5

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Not working or functioning; either idle or broken.

adj

No longer legally binding.

Example Sentences

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

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- English operative English inoperative From in- + operative.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪnˈɑp(ə)ɹətɪv/
British English: /ɪnˈɒp(ə)ɹətɪv/

Derived Forms

inoperativeness

Rhymes With

operative uncooperative

Questions

How do you pronounce inoperative?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪnˈɑp(ə)ɹətɪv/.
What does inoperative mean?: Not working or functioning; either idle or broken.
Where does inoperative come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- English operative English inoperative From in- + operative.

How to pronounce inoperative

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “inoperative”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪnˈɑp(ə)ɹətɪv/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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