futility
英 [fjuː'tɪləti] 美 [fjuː'tɪləti]
n.无用；无益；无价值
◉Etymology
"Futility"源自拉丁语“futilis”，意为“易漏的”或“无用的”，由“futus”（倾倒）和“-ilis”（形容词后缀）构成。这个词最初可能与容器渗漏的意象相关，暗示某种东西无法被留住或实现。到16世纪，“futility”进入英语，继承了“徒劳无功”的含义，与动词“futile”（无效的）紧密关联。其词根还与“futilitarian”（认为一切皆无用的人）等衍生词相连，反映出一种对意义的怀疑态度。
◉外刊例句
① 《The Washington Post》 (2023年9月28日)
The endless debates over climate policy underscored the futility of seeking consensus in a divided world.
关于气候政策的无休止争论凸显了在一个分裂的世界中寻求共识的徒劳。
② 《The Atlantic》 (2024年7月14日)
She spoke of the futility of chasing perfection, a lesson learned through years of self-doubt.
她谈到了追求完美的徒劳，这是多年来自我怀疑中得出的教训。
◉经典名著
① 《麦克白》（Macbeth）——威廉·莎士比亚 (约1606年)
Life’s but a walking shadow… full of sound and fury, signifying nothing—a tale of futility.
人生不过是一个行走的影子……充满喧嚣与愤怒，却毫无意义——一个徒劳的故事
② 《老人与海》（The Old Man and the Sea）——欧内斯特·海明威 (1952年)
He felt the futility of fighting the fish now, yet he could not let go.
他感到现在与鱼搏斗的徒劳，但他无法放手。
◉Usage Examples
(1) A sense of futility stole over her.
(2) She finally perceived the futility of her protest.
(3) As soon as he had felt these regrets,he realized their futility.
(4) He well knew the futility of trying to contend against witches.
(5) Accustomed as I am to public speaking, I know the futility of it.
(1) 一种没用的感觉向她袭来。
(2) 她最终感到她的抵抗是无用的。
(3) 一有这种后悔的感觉,他马上认识到后悔是无益的。
(4) 他十分清楚和巫婆斗没什么好处。
(5) 我虽然习惯公开演讲，但我却知道那是枉费心机的。
◉Usage Notes
When you can’t see the point in even trying, that’s the feeling of futility, the sense that no matter how much you work at it, nothing good will happen, so you might as well give up.
What’s the point? That’s the question asked by anyone who senses the futility of something. The futility of war makes soldiers put down their weapons, and your father’s strict rules makes any protest an act of futility. The root word is the Latin futilis, which literally means “leaky.” Imagine pouring lemonade into a cup that has no bottom. No matter how long you pour, you’ll never get a sip because of that leaky cup. Ah, the futility!
◉Colins
1. [N-UNCOUNT 不可数名词]无益；无用；徒劳；白费 Futility is a total lack of purpose or usefulness. [oft N of n/-ing]
...the injustice and futility of terrorism.
恐怖主义的非正义性和枉费心机
