# powerless

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈpaʊɚləs/ · frequency rank #15,247

## Definitions
1. Lacking sufficient power or strength.
2. Lacking legal authority.
3. Without electricity or electrical power.

## Etymology
From Middle English pouerles, powerles, equivalent to power + -less.

## Easily confused with
- **peerless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/peerless-vs-powerless)

## Common misspellings (12)
`opwerless`, `poewrless`, `powelress`, `powerelss`, `powerles`, `powerlless`, `powerlses`, `powerrless`, `powreless`, `powwerless`, `ppowerless`, `pwoerless`

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