# helpless

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈhɛlplɪs/ · frequency rank #11,391

## Definitions
1. Unable to defend oneself.
2. Lacking help; powerless.
3. Unable to act without help; needing help; feeble.
4. Uncontrollable.
5. From which there is no possibility of being saved.

## Etymology
From Middle English helples, from Old English *helplēas (“helpless”) from Proto-Germanic *helpōlausaz, equivalent to help + -less. Compare Dutch hulpeloos (“helpless”), German hilflos (“helpless”), Danish hjælpeløs (“helpless”) and Swedish hjälplös (“helpless”).

## Easily confused with
- **helplessly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/helpless-vs-helplessly)
- **hapless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hapless-vs-helpless)
- **headless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/headless-vs-helpless)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ehlpless`, `hellpess`, `hellpless`, `helpelss`, `helples`, `helplless`, `helplses`, `helppless`, `heplless`, `hhelpless`, `hlepless`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/helpless