operable

Something that's operable is ready and able to be used, like a car with a healthy engine or a computer that starts without trouble. It means the thing is in working order and can do the job it is meant to do. You would not want to buy an appliance if it was not operable. Think of it as the opposite of "broken" or "out of service." A pilot checks that key systems are operable before takeoff, and a technician makes sure the machines on a factory floor stay operable so work does not stop.

The word operable describes something that can be used or put into action because it is working properly. It often suggests not just basic function, but real readiness for use. The word is common with machines, tools, systems, devices, and other things people need to run or use. For example, a hospital may check that all emergency equipment is operable, or a building manager may report that only one elevator is operable after a power issue.

Context often changes the shade of meaning. In technical fields such as engineering, operable can suggest that something meets the needed conditions for safe and proper use. In medicine, the word has a more specific meaning: a condition or tumor is operable if doctors believe surgery can be done on it, often to remove or treat it. In everyday use, though, it usually just means "working." For example, "After hours of repairs, the vintage radio was finally operable again."

It is important to distinguish operable from words like fixable or possible. Something may be repairable, but it is not operable until the needed work has actually been done. A vintage car waiting for major repairs may become operable one day, but it is not operable now. So when something is described as operable, the idea is usually clear: it works now, and it can be used for its intended purpose.