# powerless

/ˈpaʊɝɫəs/ (US) · /pˈaʊələs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/powerless
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. lacking control or influence

adjective · CEFR B2

having no power to change a situation or influence what happens.

For teachers: lacking the agency, influence, or social power required to affect an outcome.

- The citizens felt powerless to stop the new road from being built.
- Individual employees often feel powerless to challenge corporate policies that have been established for decades by the board of directors.

### 2. without legal authority

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

not having the legal right or permission to do something.

For teachers: lacking the formal or legal jurisdiction to perform a specific action.

- The local police were powerless to act because the crime happened in another country.
- Without a signed warrant, the investigators were legally powerless to enter the premises or seize any digital evidence.

### 3. without electricity

adjective · CEFR B2

having no electrical energy to work.

For teachers: deprived of electrical power or energy supply.

- The storm left thousands of homes powerless for three days.
- The hospital's backup generators kicked in immediately, ensuring that critical equipment did not remain powerless during the city-wide blackout.

## Examples

- I felt powerless to stop the changes at work.
- The local residents felt powerless against the large corporation's plan to build a factory in their quiet neighborhood.
- The protagonist's journey is defined by his transition from a powerless observer of political corruption to a central figure in the resistance movement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.