pointless

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English pointles, poynteles, poyntlees. By surface analysis, point +‎ -less.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: pointʹləs, IPA(key): /ˈpɔɪntləs/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Adjective

pointless (comparative more pointless, superlative most pointless)

  1. Having no point or sharp tip; terminating squarely or in a rounded end.
    a pointless sword
    a pointless knife
    • 1918, James George Frazer, Folk-Lore In The Old Testament, volume 1, page 398:
      The dâo is a long knife or sword, narrow at the haft, square, broad, and pointless at the tip, with only one edge sharpened.
  2. Having no prominent or important feature, as of an argument, discourse, etc.
    a pointless remark
    The sequel to the film was even more pointless than the original
    • 2017, Hernan Diaz, In the Distance, Daunt Books (2018), page 304:
      Even the numerous drunkards and beggars seemed to be in a hurry, stumbling from one side of the street to the other with pointless resolution or, with businesslike expeditiousness, soliciting money and food from strangers.
  3. Having no purpose; purposeless; unable to effect an aim.
    Since the decision has already been made, further discussion seems pointless.
    • 1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume II: The Golden Age, Oxford: Clarendon Press, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 324, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: rozwój (in Polish):
      The latter, however, showed in the 1890s that the issue had become pointless, as by then no power could arrest the development of capitalism and the decline of the obshchina.
  4. (sports, games) Having no points
    After four matches and four defeats, United remain pointless at the foot of the table.
  5. (mathematics) Without points.
    a pointless topology
  6. (programming, derogatory) Point-free; employing the tacit programming paradigm.

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Further reading

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