moot

1 of 3

adjective

ˈmüt 

1

a

: open to question : debatable

b

: subjected to discussion : disputed

2

: deprived of practical significance : made abstract or purely academic

moot

2 of 3

verb

mooted; mooting; moots

transitive verb

1

a

: to bring up for discussion : broach

b

: debate

2

archaic : to discuss from a legal standpoint : argue

moot

3 of 3

noun

1

: a deliberative assembly primarily for the administration of justice

especially : one held by the freemen of an Anglo-Saxon community

2

obsolete : argument, discussion

Did you know?

To describe an argument as "moot" is to say that there's no point in discussing it further. In other words, a moot argument is one that has no practical or useful significance and is fit only for theoretical consideration, as in a classroom. It's no surprise, then, that the roots of moot are entwined with academia. The adjective moot followed a few centuries behind the noun moot, which comes from mōt, an Old English word meaning "assembly." Originally, moot referred to an Anglo-Saxon deliberative assembly that met primarily for the administration of justice. By the 16th century, functioning judicial moots had diminished, the only remnant being moot courts, academic mock courts in which law students could try hypothetical cases for practice. The earliest use of moot as an adjective was as a synonym of debatable, but because the cases students tried in moot courts had no bearing on the real world, the word gained the additional sense—used especially in North America—of "deprived of practical significance."

Synonyms

Adjective

• arguable
• controvertible
• debatable
• disputable
• doubtable
• doubtful
• issuable
• negotiable
• questionable

Verb

• bring up
• broach
• introduce
• place
• raise

Examples of moot in a Sentence

Adjective

Among the many advantages of legislation requiring a label was that it allowed the industry to insist—in court if necessary—that claims against the companies for negligence and deception were now moot. Every smoker would be repeatedly warned that "smoking may be hazardous to your health." —Allan M. Brandt, The Cigarette Century, 2007

And the question of delight shouldn't be moot. —Edward Hoagland, Harper's, June 2007

… a genuine Atlantic political culture might be the result—rendering the fears expressed in this article largely moot. —John O'Sullivan, National Review, 6 Dec. 1999

The court ruled that the issue is now moot because the people involved in the dispute have died.

I think they were wrong, but the point is moot. Their decision has been made and it can't be changed now.

Verb

And it was they, not the British, who slapped down any suggestion of democratic reform when it was quietly mooted by British colonial officers in the 1950s. —Ian Buruma, New Republic, 24 Sept. 2001

… he looked for an easy way out. A spot in the stateside Guard would have suited him fine; in the event, he dodged and weaved until a low draft number came along to moot his problem. —Hendrik Hertzberg, New Yorker, 16 & 23 Oct. 2000

And then the word comes of Ted's inoperable pancreatic cancer, and death moots the long conflict. —Richard Rhodes, New York Times Book Review, 24 Dec. 2000

conservatives had shouted down the proposal when it was first mooted

the issue of whether a person's nature or upbringing is more important continues to be mooted by experts and laymen alike

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Legally, a case is moot only when the underlying issue in a case no longer applies, so that the court’s ruling would have no impact. —Emily Baker-White, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

Republicans, meanwhile, argued that the issue was moot because Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress. —Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2024

Verb

Strictly speaking, those developments may not moot this case. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2024

Remember, this was first mooted as a strategy in Georgia’s national elections in 2012, the first time it was invoked. —Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English, from Old English mōt, gemōt; akin to Middle High German muoze meeting

First Known Use

Adjective

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing moot

• moot court

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Kids Definition

moot

1 of 2 verb

ˈmüt 

1

: to bring up for discussion

2

: debate entry 2 sense 1

moot

2 of 2 adjective

: open to question or discussion : debatable

a moot question

Legal Definition

moot

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈmüt 

: to make moot

statute of limitations would moot the effort

—S. R. Sontag

moot

2 of 2 adjective

: deprived of practical significance : made abstract or purely academic

the case became moot when the defendant paid the sum at issue

see also mootness doctrine compare justiciable, ripe

mootness

ˈmüt-nəs

noun

Etymology

Adjective

(of a trial or hearing) hypothetical, staged for practice, from moot hypothetical case for law students, argument, deliberative assembly, from Old English mōt assembly, meeting