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.

Trying to find the cause is an exercise in futility.

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

The 15th year of that streak of futility was clinched Sunday with a 34-10 blowout loss to the Dolphins, a game in which the Jets had no option but to inflict an undrafted rookie quarterback from Missouri onto the sparse MetLife Stadium crowd — one that booed him after his first three-and-out. —Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2025

The Florida Panthers entered the weekend having lost five consecutive home games, their longest stretch of futility on home ice since 2020. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Dec. 2025

There also was Carrie Fisher, who hilariously recurred as a vengeful ex of Jake’s who is bent on destroying him — with ever-increasing firepower and futility. —Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025

There was an emphasis on the sadness and the futility that was felt in peak pandemic. —Paula Aceves, Vulture, 1 Dec. 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