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

An exhilarating sweep of the San Diego Padres was immediately followed by a dud and a split to a Rockies team that only recently has escaped being on a historic pace for futility. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2025

To say that Babe was – and still is – bigger than life is to engage in senseless futility. —Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025

There's some kind of lesson here, about the ultimate futility of revenge, about the sins of the parents, about what perpetuating the cycle of violence ultimately gets you. —ArsTechnica, 27 May 2025

Chekhov’s stories remind me of the futility of holding onto stories that hold rigidly onto a bygone past. —Philip Metres july 30, Literary Hub, 30 July 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