purposeless

American

[pur-puhs-lis] / ˈpɜr pəs lɪs /

adjective

having no purpose or apparent meaning.
having no aim or goal; aimless.

to lead a purposeless existence.

purposeless British

/ ˈpɜːpəslɪs /

adjective

having no fixed plan or intention

"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

Other Word Forms

purposelessly adverb
purposelessness noun

Etymology

Origin of purposeless

First recorded in 1545–55; purpose + -less

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.

“So, in a way, my life seems purposeless now,” Wright continues.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2024

People who are depressed and suicidal feel helpless, powerless, useless, worthless, meaningless and purposeless.

From Salon • Jul. 11, 2022

Some red tape is purposeless, but not all of it is.

From New York Times • Jan. 22, 2021

In a crisis of this magnitude, finding the emotional space to care about a single death can feel purposeless, unnecessary.

From The Guardian • May 2, 2020

His father was a dear but somewhat purposeless fellow with the nickname of Bingo who seemed happiest shaking cocktails behind the bar.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023