- Today's Word
Feckless
FEK-liss
Definition
(adjective) Lacking initiative, responsibility, or strength of character.
Example
His feckless leadership left the team confused and directionless.
Fun Fact
Though not widely used in everyday speech, feckless is a favorite insult in British politics and op-eds. It comes from an old Scottish word meaning “effect”—so feckless literally means “ineffective.” It’s often used for people who appear lazy, careless, or passively incapable, especially when they should know better.
(noun) A mistaken belief or flawed line of reasoning that appears convincing but leads to an incorrect conclusion.
The claim that because something is natural it must be safe is a well-known fallacy.