futility

noun

fu·​til·​i·​ty fyü-ˈti-lə-tē 

plural futilities

1

: the quality or state of being futile : uselessness

His speech focused on the futility of violence.

2

: a useless act or gesture

the futilities of debate for its own sake

—W. A. White

Examples of futility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Election analyst Nate Silver, speaking on Saturday, took both sides’ ability to see victory in the early voting patterns as a sign of the futility of drawing any significant conclusions. —Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Nov. 2024

The existentialist lyrics speak about the futility of material pursuits. —Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024

This sense of futility breeds helplessness and withdrawal. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

And that streak of futility continued into Sunday’s live finale when Cam lost both part one and part two of the final Head of Household competition. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French and Latin; French futilité, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin fūtilitāt-, fūtilitās (also futtilitāt-, futtilitās) "unprofitableness, uselessness," from fūtilis, futtilis "brittle, fragile (of containers), serving no purpose, pointless" + -itāt- -itās -ity — more at futile

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing futility

• exercise in futility

Kids Definition

futility

noun

fu·​til·​i·​ty ˌfyu̇-ˈtil-ət-ē 

plural futilities

1

: the quality or state of being futile

2

: a useless act