nugatory
Americanadjective
-
of no real value; trifling; worthless.
- Synonyms:
- frivolous, insignificant, trivial
-
of no force or effect; ineffective; futile; vain.
- Synonyms:
- inoperative, useless
-
not valid.
adjective
-
of little value; trifling
-
not valid
a nugatory law
Etymology
Origin of nugatory
1595–1605; < Latin nūgātōrius worthless, useless, trifling, equivalent to nūgā(rī ) to trifle + -tōrius -tory 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Similarly nugatory paperwork errors are at the heart of two other elements of the case.
From Los Angeles Times
But logically and empirically, the differences between the claims are nugatory.
From Los Angeles Times
Or by the supposed injustice of rendering the billions they’ve already invested nugatory.
From Los Angeles Times
Moreover, even for many workers still receiving paychecks, the tax cut would be trivial to the point of being nugatory.
From Los Angeles Times
The committee filed suit for enforcement, lest Congress’s oversight function be rendered anemic, even nugatory.
From Washington Post
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
