feckless

Feckless describes an irresolute, weak, or ineffective action or person.

Content warning: This article contains reference to some strong language.

Feckless seems like an unlikely word to make news in the internet age, sounding more like something you’d see in a letter in the 18th-century about someone’s unambitious relative. And indeed, feckless has a fairly old pedigree, recorded in the late 1500s. This Scots word is based on feck, which can refer to “vigor” or “efficiency,” and is a clipped form of effect. So, feckless is “lacking feck,” hence “ineffective.”

Feckless one of many –less words in English that retains a base noun we’ve otherwise largely lost (e.g., ruthless, reckless, hapless, gormless). And, in case you’re wondering, feckless does have a counterpart in (the rare or humorous) feckful.

But, humble feckless was catapulted into publicity on May 30, 2018, when comedian Samantha Bee dropped it (and another very choice word) on her news satire show Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.

Amid the controversy of the Trump administration’s migrant family separation policy that year, Ivanka Trump tweeted a photo of herself and her child. On a segment of her show lambasting the perceived obliviousness of the photo, Bee criticized Ivanka by calling her feckless (and that other very choice word we alluded to above).

The White House (along with others) condemned the comment, and Samantha Bee issued an apology the following day. But, the word feckless (and that other stronger word) went buzzing in search interest and in the media after the incident.

Feckless is widely used as a forceful adjective fired at someone felt to be inadequate, weak-willed, or ineffective at their job or in life.

Pouring money into a feckless boyfriend is like investing in a company you own no part of.

— Solomon Olumide S (@emnifeelinboyya) August 9, 2016

It’s especially used in political contexts (a trend already noted in the early 2010s, before Samantha Bee’s comments), where it may be paired with insults, including coward or other, stronger C words (thanks to Bee).

Of course, it’s not all politics with feckless, which also finds a home in plenty of sports contexts, too.

A player who would revolutionise United’s feckless midfield. Instead, the club want Sean Longstaff. Because he’s English and well, cheap? https://t.co/mHOHUNGBjJ

— Grant Robbins™️💦 (@TrequartistaTM) June 25, 2019

One sub-usage is the phrase the feckless poor, which is like an older, British version of the “welfare queen” (i.e., the stereotype that the poor are lazy and undeserving of benefits).

But it’s not always so mean, feckless. Sometimes it can be used in a more lighthearted, ironic way.

Last week was tough, I miss my daughter so much & sometimes I just need to get off the bus and look after me. Yesterday I found a new knitting group, met some lovely ladies, bought yarn had a few pints and tea out with Mr J & came home to this feckless lazy Hound! Little steps! pic.twitter.com/uwu6mqyma8

— Rebecca Jackson (@RJaks4) June 23, 2019

More examples of feckless:

“It’s not the first time a wealthy investment analyst has characterised [sic] coffee drinking as feckless spending”
—Emma Brockes, The Guardian, June 2019

This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.