What does "clueless" mean?

1. (ignorant or oblivious) having no knowledge or understanding about a situation; not knowing what to do. 2. (without hints) having no clues or information to help solve a puzzle or problem.

How do you use "clueless"?

Often followed by the preposition 'about'.

clueless

adj.

US //ˈkɫuɫəs// UK //klˈuːləs// clue·less

1 ignorant or oblivious (adj.)
B1 Intermediate Informal

having no knowledge or understanding about a situation; not knowing what to do.

lacking knowledge, understanding, or social awareness; often used to describe someone who is completely oblivious to their surroundings or a specific topic.

Example

He was completely clueless about how to fix the broken sink.

Example

Despite having worked there for three months, he remained entirely clueless regarding the company's internal filing procedures.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'about'.
2 without hints (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

having no clues or information to help solve a puzzle or problem.

literally lacking any physical or informational clues; used in contexts like detective work or puzzle-solving.

Example

The detectives were clueless until they found the hidden camera.

Example

The investigators were left clueless after the rain washed away any potential footprints from the crime scene.
- uninformed
- blind

Origin

From clue + -less.