futility

[ fyoo-til-i-tee ]
See synonyms for futility on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural fu·til·i·ties for 2, 3.
  1. the quality of being futile; ineffectiveness; uselessness.

  2. a trifle or frivolity: the large collection of futilities that clutter our minds.

  1. a futile act or event.

Origin of futility

1
From the Latin word fūtilitās, dating back to 1615–25. See futile, -ity

Words Nearby futility

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use futility in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for futility

futility

/ (fjuːˈtɪlɪtɪ) /


nounplural -ties
  1. lack of effectiveness or success

  2. lack of purpose or meaning

  1. something futile

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012