Word
futility
Phoneticsfu·til·i·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/fjuˈtɪɫəti/
UK/fjuːtˈɪlɪti/
Definition
n. the quality of being useless or having no point. You use this when you feel like your efforts are not making any difference at all.
n. the state or quality of being ineffective, pointless, or incapable of producing a desired result.
Examples
“He felt a sense of futility after trying to fix the broken machine.”
“The long hours of work felt like a waste of time, leading to a deep sense of futility.”
“Despite the team's best efforts, the sheer scale of the disaster rendered their rescue mission a tragic exercise in futility.”
Examples
simple
“He felt a sense of futility after trying to fix the broken machine.”
contextual
“The long hours of work felt like a waste of time, leading to a deep sense of futility.”
complex
“Despite the team's best efforts, the sheer scale of the disaster rendered their rescue mission a tragic exercise in futility.”
Real-World Examples
“Somehow, knowing the possible futility isn’t sufficient to deter my mind from going down this rabbit hole, and I don’t think I’m alone.” “Personally, like many people, accepting the futility of my small life led me to deepen my commitment to environmentalism.” Etymology
From Latin fūtilitās (“worthlessness, futility”). By surface analysis, futile + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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