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¹moot

noun \ˈmüt\

Definition of MOOT

: a deliberative assembly primarily for the administration of justice; especially : one held by the freemen of an Anglo-Saxon community

obsolete : argument, discussion

Origin of MOOT

Middle English, from Old English mōt, gemōt; akin to Middle High German muoze meeting

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Rhymes with MOOT

boot, bruit, brut, brute, bute, Bute, butte, chute, cloot, coot, cute, flute, fruit, glout, glute, hoot, jute, Jute, loot, lute, mute, newt, pood, root, Root, rout, route, scoot, scute, shoot, snoot, soot, suit, suite, toot, tout, ut, Ute

²moot

verb \ˈmüt\

: to introduce (an idea, subject, etc.) for discussion

Full Definition of MOOT

transitive verb

archaic : to discuss from a legal standpoint : argue

a : to bring up for discussion : broach

b : debate

See moot defined for English-language learners

See moot defined for kids

Examples of MOOT

And it was they, not the British, who slapped down any suggestion of democratic reform when it was quietly mooted by British colonial officers in the 1950s. —Ian Buruma, New Republic, 24 Sept. 2001
… he looked for an easy way out. A spot in the stateside Guard would have suited him fine; in the event, he dodged and weaved until a low draft number came along to moot his problem. —Hendrik Hertzberg, New Yorker, 16 & 23 Oct. 2000
And then the word comes of Ted's inoperable pancreatic cancer, and death moots the long conflict. —Richard Rhodes, New York Times Book Review, 24 Dec. 2000
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Origin of MOOT

(see ¹moot)

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to MOOT

Synonyms: bring up, broach, introduce, place, raise

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

³moot

adjective \ˈmüt\

: not certain : argued about but not possible for people to prove

: not worth talking about : no longer important or worth discussing

Full Definition of MOOT

a : open to question : debatable

b : subjected to discussion : disputed

: deprived of practical significance : made abstract or purely academic

See moot defined for English-language learners

Examples of MOOT

Among the many advantages of legislation requiring a label was that it allowed the industry to insist—in court if necessary—that claims against the companies for negligence and deception were now moot. Every smoker would be repeatedly warned that “smoking may be hazardous to your health.” —Allan M. Brandt, The Cigarette Century, 2007
And the question of delight shouldn't be moot. —Edward Hoagland, Harper's, June 2007
… a genuine Atlantic political culture might be the result—rendering the fears expressed in this article largely moot. —John O'Sullivan, National Review, 6 Dec. 1999
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