not operative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not operative" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not functioning, active, or effective in a particular context. Example: "Due to the recent changes in policy, the previous agreement is now considered not operative."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The independent variables of each model were: age, sex, status of health insurance (the National Health Insurance beneficiaries or Medical Aids beneficiaries), admission category (emergency admission or not), operative status (operated on or not), and adjusted severity of comorbidities measured by the Charlson index or Elixhauser comorbidity measures.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Because three monitoring sites in Harris County were not in operation for all three years (one site was not operative in 2000, one site was not operative in 1998, and one site was not operative in 1998 or 1999), there were a total of 47 data points used for the kriging analysis.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

There was a draft mandate which is not operative.

The Guardian

Jettisoning such a portfolio onto a mortgage market that is not operative would, it is plain to see, be a disaster.

The New York Times

Still, both the Tsuruga and Monju plants in Fukui Prefecture, even if not operative, could continue to face risks from a possible earthquake along the active fault.

The New York Times

Hermitages existed in ancient, pre-Buddhist India (such as the abodes of the rishis [Vedic "seers"] and the gurukula [teacher's family]), but monastic vows of chastity and an unequivocal rule of monastic comportment were not operative before the time of the Buddhist sangha about the 5th century bce.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Post-operative but not pre-operative AKI was associated with hospital mortality.

Critical Care

Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, said that the 2,025 was "not the operative number".

The New York Times

The police said the youth was apparently mentally ill and probably not an operative of Al Qaeda.

The New York Times

I would think that the first one, the consumption-postponement effect is not yet operative.

The Economist

Thus, the principle of representation was established, but it did not become operative for decades to come.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical issues, use "not operative" to clearly communicate that a system, mechanism, or process is failing to perform its intended function.

Common error

Avoid using "not operative" in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "not working" or "broken" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not operative" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it is not in a working state. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

79%

News & Media

12%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not operative" serves as a clear and direct way to indicate that something is not functioning or active. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is most commonly encountered in scientific and technical contexts, as confirmed by the frequency in scientific sources. While versatile, it tends towards formality, so simpler alternatives might be better suited for casual conversation. Alternatives such as "inoperative", "non-functional", and "out of order" offer nuances that can fine-tune the message based on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inoperative

Replaces "not operative" with a single word that conveys a similar sense of being out of service or not functioning.

non-functional

Emphasizes the lack of functionality, highlighting that something is not working as intended.

out of order

Suggests a temporary state of being broken or unusable, often used for equipment or systems.

inactive

Indicates a state of being dormant or not currently active, implying a potential for future operation.

out of service

Similar to "out of order", specifically indicating that something is temporarily unavailable for use.

not functioning

Directly states that something is not performing its intended function.

not working

A more general term for something that is broken or not operating correctly.

defunct

Implies that something has ceased to exist or function, often permanently.

invalid

Indicates that something is not valid or legally binding, often used in formal or legal contexts.

void

Similar to "invalid", suggesting that something has no legal effect or is completely null.

FAQs

What does "not operative" mean?

"Not operative" means something is not functioning, active, or effective. It's often used in technical or formal contexts.

What can I say instead of "not operative"?

Alternatives include "inoperative", "non-functional", or "out of order", depending on the specific context.

Is "not operative" formal or informal?

"Not operative" leans towards formal usage. In informal settings, consider using simpler alternatives like "not working".

How to use "not operative" in a sentence?

Example: "Due to the system failure, the backup generator is currently "not operative"".