Word of the day · 22 July 2026
nugatory
/ˈnjuːɡətəri/
adjective
Of no value or importance; useless or trifling.
In a sentence
- Without enforcement the new rule is nugatory.
- They dismissed the complaint as nugatory and moved on.
- A nugatory amendment delayed the vote without changing the bill.
In an image
Origin
From Latin nugatorius (trifling, futile), from nugari (to trifle) and nugae (jokes, trifles).
History
Legal English kept nugatory for rules or acts that have no force. Broader use marks arguments and gestures that look busy but change nothing. The word is sharper than useless because it hints at trivial play. It fits audits, debates and paperwork that waste serious time.
Nearby words
worthless · futile · trifling
Effort and claims that add nothing that matters.