# unusable

/ənˈjuzəbəɫ/ (US) · /ʌnjˈuːzəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unusable
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

not able to be used or to work properly. You use this when something is broken, damaged, or not suitable for its intended purpose.

For teachers: incapable of being used or functioning effectively. Often describes objects that have failed or data that cannot be processed by a system.

## Examples

- The old computer is completely unusable now.
- After the heavy rain, the roads became so muddy that the car was unusable for travel.
- The software update rendered the previous version unusable for most users, forcing the company to provide a temporary patch until the next release.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.