inutilità

Inutilità is a noun in Italian that denotes the state or quality of being useless or lacking practical utility. It may describe objects that do not serve a function, actions that fail to produce expected results, or ideas considered devoid of practical value. The term is commonly contrasted with utilità, meaning usefulness or utility.

The word derives from Latin inutilitas, from inutilis 'useless', with the suffix -itas indicating a state or quality. In Italian, it entered usage through literary and philosophical language and became part of everyday vocabulary.

In philosophical and cultural discourse, inutilità is used to question the primacy of instrumentality and efficiency. Some contemporary theories discuss value beyond utility, including beauty, play, or contemplation. Certain art and design movements have embraced the concept of inutilità as a deliberate stance, privileging form, humor, or anti-functional attributes over practical function.

In literature, the term can describe characters or actions whose efforts appear futile, highlighting themes of fragility, randomness, or existential concern. It is also used in discussions about consumer society, where objects are sometimes dismissed as merely useless or trivially redundant.

In everyday usage, inutilità denotes the actual uselessness of a device or plan, or a rhetorical remark about impracticality. The word can carry a neutral descriptive sense or a negative evaluative tone, depending on context.