Producing no useful or desired result; failing to achieve any success or benefit.
From fruit + -less, where 'fruit' comes from Old French fruit, from Latin fructus meaning 'enjoyment, product, fruit.' The metaphorical use of 'fruit' for results or outcomes dates to the 13th century.
The agricultural metaphor in 'fruitless' connects human endeavors to the natural cycle of planting and harvesting, suggesting that good efforts should naturally produce good results. Interestingly, some fruit trees can be temporarily fruitless during establishment years, then produce abundantly—a reminder that immediate results aren't always the measure of eventual success.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.