frail

1
[ freyl ]
See synonyms for: frailfrailness on Thesaurus.com

adjective,frail·er, frail·est.
  1. having delicate health; not robust; weak: My grandfather is rather frail now.

  2. easily broken or destroyed; fragile.

  1. morally weak; easily tempted.

noun
  1. Older Slang: Sometimes Offensive. a term used to refer to a girl or woman.

Origin of frail

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English frail(e), frel(e), from Old French, from Latin fragilis fragile

synonym study For frail

1, 2. Frail, brittle, fragile imply a delicacy or weakness of substance or construction. Frail applies particularly to health and immaterial things: a frail constitution; frail hopes. Brittle implies a hard material that snaps or breaks to pieces easily: brittle as glass. Fragile implies that the object must be handled carefully to avoid breakage or damage: fragile bric-a-brac.

usage note For frail

This term is sometimes perceived as insulting or condescending when used to refer to a woman, since it reinforces the stereotype of a weak female.

Other words for frail

Opposites for frail

Other words from frail

  • frailly, adverb
  • frailness, noun

Words Nearby frail

Other definitions for frail (2 of 2)

frail2
[ freyl ]

noun
  1. a flexible basket made of rushes, used especially for dried fruits, as dates, figs, or raisins.

  2. a certain quantity of raisins, about 75 pounds (34 kilograms), contained in such a basket.

Origin of frail

2
First recorded 1300–50; Middle English frayel, fraelle, from Old French frayel; further origin unknown

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use frail in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for frail (1 of 2)

frail1

/ (freɪl) /


adjective
  1. physically weak and delicate

  2. fragile: a frail craft

  1. easily corrupted or tempted

Origin of frail

1
C13: from Old French frele, from Latin fragilis, fragile

Derived forms of frail

  • frailly, adverb
  • frailness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for frail (2 of 2)

frail2

/ (freɪl) /


noun
  1. a rush basket for figs or raisins

  2. a quantity of raisins or figs equal to between 50 and 75 pounds

Origin of frail

2
C13: from Old French fraiel, of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012