footling

[ foot-ling ]

/ ˈfʊt lɪŋ /

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adjective Informal.

foolish; silly: ridiculous, footling remarks.

trifling or useless.

QUIZ

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Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

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Origin of footling

First recorded in 1895–1900; footle + -ing²

Words nearby footling

footlet, foot level, footlight, footlights, foot line, footling, footling presentation, footlocker, footlong, footloose, footloose and fancy-free

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use footling in a sentence

Ive repeated to myself over and over again exactly what I want to say to you, and now all Id prepared seems rather footling.
The Circle|W. Somerset Maugham
If you ask me, I should call it a simply footling show—but you were long enough over it.
The Travelling Companions|F. Anstey
Seems as if everything were too small and footling to matter.
Notwithstanding|Mary Cholmondeley
Still jumping, I said to myself: 'What in the name of glory are those asses right and left footling about?
'Neath Verdun, August-October, 1914|Maurice Genevoix

Only a couple of days ago I was compelled to take him off a case because his handling of it was so footling.
Right Ho, Jeeves|P. G. Wodehouse

British Dictionary definitions for footling

footling

/ (ˈfuːtlɪŋ) /

adjective

informal silly, trivial, or petty

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