The words “moot” and “mute” are often misused.  They are somewhat similar, but beyond their different spellings, they are also pronounced differently.

First, as far as definition is concerned, “mute” pertains to silence.  It could refer to a person who cannot speak in its noun form, or it could refer to something that isn’t emitting any sound in its adjective form.  You can also use “mute” as a verb to indicate the silencing of something.

Examples:

The criminal remained mute under questioning.

You can mute the television with the remote control.

“Moot” is entirely different and often refers to something that has little or no practical value.  This is its common usage in the United States.  In other parts of the world, “moot” is sometimes used to signify something that is open to discussion or debate.  Most commonly, however, remember moot as a topic that is purely academic or irrelevant.

Example:

With so much evidence against her, Mindy’s argument was moot.

This example is how you will most often see “moot” used in the United States.  As mentioned, however, it can also mean something that is debatable, so keep that in mind if you are traveling in a place like the United Kingdom.