useless

When we call something useless, we mean it has no function or cannot get the job done. It is a very common word in English, often used to describe inanimate objects that are broken or people who are not being helpful.

Think of a pen that has run out of ink. It looks like a pen, but it cannot write. In that moment, the pen is useless. It is a powerful word because it carries a strong sense of disappointment or finality.

The word useless is a combination of the Old French word us (from Latin usus, meaning 'use') and the Old English suffix -leas, which means 'devoid of' or 'without'.

It first appeared in the English language during the 16th century. It is a classic example of how English combines Latin roots with Germanic suffixes to create descriptive, practical vocabulary.

You can use useless in both casual and formal settings. In casual conversation, it is often used to vent frustration, such as 'This app is useless!'

In more formal settings, it describes items that are redundant or inefficient. Common collocations include 'useless information' or 'useless effort', where the focus is on the lack of practical gain.

1. As useful as a chocolate teapot: Used to describe something completely ineffective. 2. Useless as a screen door on a submarine: A humorous way to say something is totally unnecessary. 3. Fit for nothing: Meaning someone or something is useless. 4. Dead weight: Someone or something that is useless and adds burden. 5. A white elephant: A possession that is useless and expensive to maintain.

Useless is a gradable adjective. You can say 'completely useless' or 'totally useless' to add emphasis. It is pronounced /ˈjuːsləs/ in both British and American English.

It rhymes with 'clueless' and 'juiceless'. Remember that the stress is always on the first syllable: USE-less.