Inectional

Inectional is an English adjective used to describe something that does not perform its intended function within a system. The term is not widely attested in standard dictionaries and is generally considered a neologism or a niche coinage rather than a conventional technical category. In common usage, speakers would more likely say nonfunctional, dysfunctional, or ineffective.

Origin and form: The form appears to derive from the prefix in- meaning not, combined with functional, with the suffix -al to yield an adjective. Because it is scarce in standard reference works, its precise sense can vary with authorial or disciplinary context. In some texts, inectional may emphasize absence of function while still acknowledging the component exists; in others it may imply a design flaw that prevents function from being realized.

Context and examples: In software architecture, an inectional module might be present in the codebase but never invoked by any user flow. In product design, a feature described as inectional may be present but never activated by the user due to interface or workflow constraints. Because of its nonstandard status, writers typically substitute more established terms depending on the intended nuance.

See also: nonfunctional, dysfunctional, inert, redundant. Etymology note: from in- + functional, with -al; usage is limited and mostly theoretical or editorial.