1 : not treatable or remediable by surgery an inoperable brain tumor. 2 : not functioning : inoperative.

What is the meaning of inoperable cancer?

Listen to pronunciation. (in-AH-peh-ruh-bul) Describes a condition that cannot be treated by surgery.

What makes something inoperable?

inoperable Add to list Share. An inoperable condition is one that can't be fixed through surgery. If someone's diagnosed with inoperable cancer, it means that an operation would not be helpful. Many kinds of cancer can be treated at least partly through surgery, but those that can't are inoperable.