meaningless
MEE-nihng-luhs
Meaningless (adj) means having no significance, purpose, or discernible sense. Example: “The politician's promises felt meaningless after years of broken pledges.”
adj
1
Having no significance, purpose, or discernible sense.
"The politician's promises felt meaningless after years of broken pledges."
"Without context, the string of numbers was meaningless to us."
"After the accident, even his big salary seemed meaningless to him."
How to use meaningless
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEmpty of purpose or sense — pointless or without significance.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
meaningless gesture
meaningless statistics
feel meaningless
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more meaningless
- Superlative
- most meaningless
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The politician's promises felt _____ after years of broken pledges.
Etymology
From meaning plus the negating suffix -less.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “meaningless” mean?
The word “meaningless” means having no significance, purpose, or discernible sense. In plain terms, empty of purpose or sense — pointless or without significance.
How do you pronounce “meaningless”?
“Meaningless” is pronounced MEE-nihng-luhs (/ˈmiːnɪŋləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “meaningless” in a sentence?
Here is “meaningless” used in a sentence: “The politician's promises felt meaningless after years of broken pledges.”
What part of speech is “meaningless”?
“Meaningless” is an adjective.
Is “meaningless” a common word?
“Meaningless” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between meaningless and pointless?
Meaningless describes something that has no significance or discernible sense, while pointless more specifically describes an action or effort that serves no useful purpose. A statement can be meaningless because it makes no sense, while a task is pointless because it accomplishes nothing worthwhile.
Can a word or phrase be meaningless?
Yes, a word or phrase is called meaningless when it conveys no real information or discernible sense, such as jargon strung together without logical content. This differs from a phrase that is simply false, since a meaningless statement cannot even be evaluated as true or false.
Is meaningless a formal or everyday word?
Meaningless is used comfortably in both everyday conversation and more formal or academic writing, such as philosophy or linguistics discussions about meaning. It applies equally to casual remarks, like a meaningless gesture, and to more technical claims, like a meaningless statement in logic.
