moot

[ moot ]

adjective

1. open to discussion or debate; debatable; doubtful:

   Whether that was the cause of their troubles is a moot point.

   Synonyms: unsettled, disputed, disputable

   Antonyms: indisputable

2. of little or no practical value, meaning, or relevance; purely academic:

   In practical terms, the issue of her application is moot because the deadline has passed.

3. Chiefly Law. not actual; theoretical; hypothetical.

verb (used with object)

1. to present or introduce (any point, subject, project, etc.) for discussion.

   Synonyms: discuss, dispute, debate

   Antonyms: agree

2. to reduce or remove the practical significance of; make purely theoretical or academic.
3. Archaic. to argue (a case), especially in a mock court.

noun

1. an assembly of the people in early England exercising political, administrative, and judicial powers.
2. an argument or discussion, especially of a hypothetical legal case.
3. Obsolete. a debate, argument, or discussion.

moot

/ muːt /

adjective

1. subject or open to debate

   a moot point

verb

1. tr to suggest or bring up for debate
2. intr to plead or argue theoretical or hypothetical cases, as an academic exercise or as vocational training for law students

noun

1. a discussion or debate of a hypothetical case or point, held as an academic activity
2. (in Anglo-Saxon England) an assembly, mainly in a shire or hundred, dealing with local legal and administrative affairs

Derived Forms

• ˈmooter, noun

Other Words From

• mooter noun
• mootness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of moot¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun mot(e) “meeting, assembly,” Old English gemōt; cognate with Old Norse mōt, Dutch gemoet “meeting”; meet ¹none

Word History and Origins

Origin of moot¹

Old English gemōt; compare Old Saxon mōt, Middle High German muoze meeting

Example Sentences

At times, Putin has mooted the possibility of using nuclear weapons, too.

From BBC

A federal judge granted a requested delay in January 6 defendant William Pope’s criminal trial on Thursday, citing the “real possibility” that a pardon from Donald Trump would render the proceedings moot.

From Salon

The mooted increase certainly did not come as good news to young people in Cardiff on Monday.

From BBC

I’ve covered lots of Budgets and lots of pension changes are often mooted, then don’t happen.

From BBC

A rematch had been mooted for 22 February in Saudi and the champion's promoter, Frank Warren, has confirmed Dubois will most likely fight on that date.

From BBC

Related Words

• debatable
• problematic
• unresolved
• unsettled