not able to do what is needed; having no practical use or value
The old flashlight was useless after its batteries died.
Trying to convince her was useless because she had already decided.
✦ Late 16th century: from the noun use + the suffix –less, meaning ‘lacking’.
informal: very bad at doing something; unable to do it effectively
I'm useless at remembering names, so I keep a list in my phone.
She joked that her brother was useless in the kitchen and could barely boil water.
✦ See main sense etymology: formed from use + –less.
