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

Ferguson’s loss to Chiesa broke another legend, BJ Penn’s, record for consecutive futility. —Brian Mazique, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

The big picture: Last year, the team set major league records for futility while fans wore paper bags over their heads and largely stayed away from the ballpark. —Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025

Director Dave Mullins uses the music of John Lennon and Yoko Ono to comment on the futility of World War I. —Jeremy Fassler, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025

It’s been a far cry from the futility of Chiefs fans in the decades prior, going without a playoff win from 1994 to 2014. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2025

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

Rhymes for futility

• ability
• agility
• civility
• debility
• docility
• ductility
• facility
• fertility
• fragility
• gentility
• hostility
• humility

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