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

And DiCaprio has made a brilliant career of playing characters who try to do just that, and often wind up embodying the futility of that ethos. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 26 Sep. 2025

The first is to expose Hamas’s criminality and the futility of its terror, which has led to the annihilation of Gaza. —Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2025

The Angels lost, 7-6, to the Colorado Rockies on Friday night, falling to a team that for much of the year was on pace to break record for futility set by the Chicago White Sox last season. —Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025

In the Enshittocene, trading utility for futility is a form of resistance. —Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 19 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