rootless
|root-less|
/ˈruːt.ləs/
without roots; ungrounded
Etymology
'rootless' originates from English, specifically formed from the word 'root' + the suffix '-less', where 'root' meant 'root' and '-less' meant 'without'.
'rootless' traces back to Old English components: 'rōt' (root) and 'lēas' (meaning 'without'); these elements combined in Middle English in forms such as 'rotles' and eventually became the modern English adjective 'rootless'.
Initially it literally meant 'without physical roots' (for plants); over time it broadened to figurative senses meaning 'without a fixed home, origin, or stable foundation.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having no physical roots; not anchored to the ground.
The transplanted tree looked rootless in its new setting.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
lacking a stable basis, origin, or lasting ties; unsettled or without a permanent home or identity.
He felt rootless after moving countries every few years.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/24 00:29