moot

American  

[moot] / mut /

adjective

1. open to discussion or debate; debatable; doubtful.

   Whether that was the cause of their troubles is a moot point.

   Synonyms:

   unsettled, disputed, disputable

   Antonyms:

   indisputable

2. of little or no practical value, meaning, or relevance; purely academic.

   In practical terms, the issue of her application is moot because the deadline has passed.

3. Chiefly Law. not actual; theoretical; hypothetical.

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verb (used with object)

1. to present or introduce (any point, subject, project, etc.) for discussion.

   Synonyms:

   discuss, dispute, debate

   Antonyms:

   agree

2. to reduce or remove the practical significance of; make purely theoretical or academic.

3. Archaic. to argue (a case), especially in a mock court.

noun

1. an assembly of the people in early England exercising political, administrative, and judicial powers.

2. an argument or discussion, especially of a hypothetical legal case.

3. Obsolete. a debate, argument, or discussion.

moot British  

/ muːt /

adjective

1. subject or open to debate

   a moot point

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verb

1. (tr) to suggest or bring up for debate

2. (intr) to plead or argue theoretical or hypothetical cases, as an academic exercise or as vocational training for law students

noun

1. a discussion or debate of a hypothetical case or point, held as an academic activity

2. (in Anglo-Saxon England) an assembly, mainly in a shire or hundred, dealing with local legal and administrative affairs

Other Word Forms

• mooter noun
• mootness noun

Etymology

Origin of moot

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun mot(e) “meeting, assembly,” Old English gemōt; cognate with Old Norse mōt, Dutch gemoet “meeting”; meet ¹

Example Sentences

Concern was expressed about the image of "superiority" that would be conveyed by the royal yacht arriving into Irish harbours as part of a mooted visit in the summer of 1996.

From BBC

If the Paramount bid pays them more and they believe it is sufficient to close, the Warner board’s preference becomes moot.

From MarketWatch

The case became moot after President Biden decided not to renew the restrictions in 2021, a move which tech companies considered a win.

From Los Angeles Times

In October, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had mooted the idea of a $20-billion loan after the two countries signed a separate US financing agreement for Argentina for the same amount.

From Barron's

But the change never got the required federal approval so the extension was moot.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• debatable
• problematic
• unresolved
• unsettled