- yielding nothing or nothing of value; unproductive; ineffectual
- without fruit
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
fruit•less /ˈfrutlɪs/USA pronunciation
adj.
fruit•less•ness, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- not producing results or success:a fruitless search.
fruit•less•ness, n. [uncountable]
fruit•less
(fro̅o̅t′lis),USA pronunciation adj.
fruit′less•ly, adv.
fruit′less•ness, n.
- useless;
unproductive;
without results or success:a fruitless search for the missing treasure. - Botanybearing no fruit;
barren.
- 1300–50; Middle English; see fruit, -less
fruit′less•ness, n.
- 1. . futile, unavailing, vain. 2. . sterile.
- 1. . useful, profitable. 2. . fertile.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
fruitless /ˈfruːtlɪs/ adj
'fruitless' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
abortive
- bootless
- circle
- fool's errand
- idle
- sterile
- stillborn
- barren
- conciliate
- horse
- ineffectual
- plentiful
- unfruitful
- useless
- vain