futility

American  

[fyoo-til-i-tee] / fyuˈtɪl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

futilities

1. the quality of being futile; ineffectiveness; uselessness.

2. a trifle or frivolity.

   the large collection of futilities that clutter our minds.

3. a futile act or event.

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futility British  

/ fjuːˈtɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. lack of effectiveness or success

2. lack of purpose or meaning

3. something futile

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Etymology

Origin of futility

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

Explanation

When you can’t see the point in even trying, that’s the feeling of futility, the sense that no matter how much you work at it, nothing good will happen, so you might as well give up. What’s the point? That’s the question asked by anyone who senses the futility of something. The futility of war makes soldiers put down their weapons, and your father’s strict rules makes any protest an act of futility. The root word is the Latin futilis, which literally means “leaky.” Imagine pouring lemonade into a cup that has no bottom. No matter how long you pour, you’ll never get a sip because of that leaky cup. Ah, the futility!

Example Sentences

Futility is one of the hardest things for cinema to convey.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2025

Futility might be an understatement when it comes to Davis' last few years.

From Golf Digest • Apr. 8, 2019

Futility and despair are still my default settings in life.

From The Guardian • May 22, 2018

That’s reflected in the Legislative Futility Index, which found the Senate’s 220 votes in the first six months of the year were 12th most for any session of Congress over the last seven decades.

From Washington Times • Jul. 20, 2015

Futility, doom, became a smell in the air, pervasive and acrid as the dead smell after a forest fire—my scent and the world’s, the scent of trees, rocks, waterways wherever I went.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner

Related Words

• emptiness
• ineffectiveness