Word
meaningless
Phoneticsmean·ing·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈminɪŋɫəs/
UK/mˈiːnɪŋləs/
Definitions
01without purpose or value
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having no purpose or importance in a particular situation.
adj. lacking significance, purpose, or value; often used to describe actions or lives that feel empty.
Español:insignificativo
“Without a clear goal, the extra work felt completely meaningless to the team.”
“The philosopher argued that existence is inherently meaningless unless the individual actively constructs their own sense of purpose through creative action.”
Usage
Often follows 'feel' or 'seem' to describe a subjective emotional state.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02without clear information
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having no clear message or information that you can understand.
adj. lacking semantic content or logical coherence; describing data or language that conveys no information.
“The computer error produced a long string of meaningless numbers and symbols.”
“The witness provided a series of meaningless statements that failed to clarify his whereabouts on the night of the incident.”
Usage
Commonly used to describe data, statistics, or political rhetoric.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“James Cartland and Son was a Birmingham metalworkers turning out umbrella stands, crocodile-shaped inkwells, shelf brackets shaped like sea monsters and “pharaonic letterboxes embossed with meaningless hieroglyphs”.” “Meaningless boredom is more likely to result in sadness, loneliness, a sense that time is dragging, and a desire to disengage.” Etymology
From meaning + -less.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/meaningless
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0