feckless

American  

[fek-lis] / ˈfɛk lɪs /

adjective

1. ineffective; incompetent; futile.

   feckless attempts to repair the plumbing.

2. having no sense of responsibility; indifferent; lazy.

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feckless British  

/ ˈfɛklɪs /

adjective

1. feeble; weak; ineffectual; irresponsible

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Usage

What does feckless mean? Feckless describes an irresolute, weak, or ineffective action or person. Content warning: This article contains reference to some strong language.

Other Word Forms

• fecklessly adverb
• fecklessness noun

Etymology

Origin of feckless

First recorded in 1590–1600; originally Scots, from feck ( late Middle English ( Scots ) fek, shortened from effeck, Scots form of effect ) + -less

Explanation

If a newspaper editorial describes a politician as feckless, you might wonder, "What is feck, and why doesn’t he have any?” In fact, the columnist is accusing the politician of being irresponsible and incompetent. Did you know that most varieties of English are in fact “feck”-less? They don’t contain a word feck, only the negative counterpart feckless. The “feck” in feckless began as a short form of effect used in the Scots dialect. So feckless essentially means "ineffective," but is also used to describe someone who is irresponsible, incompetent, inept, or without purpose in life.

Example Sentences

In film and television, book clubs are portrayed as a way for women to briefly free themselves from the shackles of domestic responsibility, sticky children, feckless husbands.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

But Norwich doesn’t ignore the republic’s bumblers and stumblers and the “sad, feckless men” who presided over its downfall in 1797.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

Your husband won’t join you in therapy if you put pressure on him or threaten him with divorce or tell him that he is feckless if he does not come along.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 9, 2025

Your mileage may vary as to whether Egg Whataboutism is a feckless approach.

From Slate • Jan. 27, 2025

McCandless wasn’t some feckless slacker, adrift and confused, racked by existential despair.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer