futility

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the quality of being pointless or incapable of producing a useful result

   After another rejected appeal, she recognized the futility of arguing with the committee.

2. 2
   noun

   an action or effort that is useless or ineffective

   Critics dismissed the final appeal as a costly futility.

From French futilite and Latin futilitas ("worthlessness, futility"), from futilis ("vain, worthless"). In English it can name either the abstract lack of useful effect or a particular useless act.

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