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.

Trying to find the cause is an exercise in futility.

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

Clearly, many boys are struggling with a sense of futility. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026

Before this year’s telecast, that movie’s director, Paul Thomas Anderson, had set a record in futility by racking up 11 Oscar nominations without a win, said Sam Adams in Slate. —The Week Us, TheWeek, 23 Mar. 2026

Back in the sixties, the ramshackle War on Poverty left a memory of futility. —Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026

Despite their historical futility – the Sabres are tied with the Vancouver Canucks as the oldest franchises to never win the Stanley Cup title and the Mammoth-Coyotes-Winnipeg Jets continuum would be right on their heels – Buffalo and Utah have been serious competitors this season. —Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 20 Mar. 2026

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