futility

noun

fu·​til·​i·​ty fyü-ˈti-lə-tē 

plural futilities

1

: the quality or state of being futile : uselessness

His speech focused on the futility of violence.

2

: a useless act or gesture

the futilities of debate for its own sake

—W. A. White

Examples of futility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet parsing the distinctions between Bluesky and X has a burgeoning air of futility. —Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025

The defeat and near no-no underscored the season-long futility by Colorado, which is the first team with three straight 100-loss seasons since the Astros from 2011-13. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025

Unfortunately, since that run, Craig has been on a nasty futility streak. —Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025

Scrappy and opportunistic, undeterred by mistakes or bouts with futility. —Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French and Latin; French futilité, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin fūtilitāt-, fūtilitās (also futtilitāt-, futtilitās) "unprofitableness, uselessness," from fūtilis, futtilis "brittle, fragile (of containers), serving no purpose, pointless" + -itāt- -itās -ity — more at futile

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing futility

• exercise in futility

Rhymes for futility

• ability
• agility
• civility
• debility
• docility
• ductility
• facility
• fertility
• fragility
• gentility
• hostility
• humility

Kids Definition

futility

noun

fu·​til·​i·​ty ˌfyu̇-ˈtil-ət-ē 

plural futilities

1

: the quality or state of being futile

2

: a useless act