devoid

Everyday

1. Devoid of something means completely without it; having none of it at all. tree →
2. (formal) Used to say a place, person or thing lacks a quality, such as «devoid of life» or «devoid of humour». tree →

In the lessons

A fairly formal word used in science and descriptive writing: deserts «devoid of water», space «devoid of air», a speech «devoid of meaning». It tells the reader that something is fully missing, not just a little.

Examples

• The Moon is devoid of liquid water on its surface. tree →
• The room was devoid of furniture after we moved out. tree →
• His voice was devoid of any feeling. tree →
• The desert seemed devoid of life, but many animals hid under the sand. tree →
• The story was devoid of surprises. tree →
• The fridge was devoid of food except for one egg. tree →

Note

Always used with «of»: devoid of something. It is not used before a noun («a devoid room» is wrong). Everyday words: «without», «empty of», «with no». In maths terms devoid means the amount is zero.