fallible
Americanadjective
-
(of persons) liable to err, especially in being deceived or mistaken.
-
liable to be erroneous or false; not accurate.
fallible information.
adjective
-
capable of being mistaken; erring
-
liable to mislead
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fallible
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin fallibilis, equivalent to Latin fall(ī) (passive of fallere “to deceive”) + -ibilis -ible
Explanation
As humans we are all fallible, because fallible means likely to make errors or fail. Nobody's perfect, after all. Fall down on the job and you're fallible. It's a forgiving way to say you screwed up. If a scientific experiment's data is fallible, that means you can't trust the numbers. More than just locking your keys in the car, fallible can allude to a lack of moral strength. If in addition to locking your keys in the car, you kissed your best friend's husband, you might try using "I'm fallible" as your defense.
Vocabulary lists containing fallible
100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Wrinkle in Time
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
They Called Us Enemy
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It is alarming that we live in a moment of widespread ignorance that CPS caseworkers, like all fallible government officials, are bound by the Constitution.
From Slate • Jul. 7, 2026
They took an absurdly gifted, if fallible France team to the very last second and backed up their endorsements of head coach Steve Borthwick in interviews, with actions on the pitch.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026
So long as human bodies are fallible to disease, we will need labs studying viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites to see which ones could cause major problems.
From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026
From this place of old age and treatable illness, Julian ruminates on the fallible nature of memory and its role in shaping our identities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
It is a surprise that we haven’t already learned that the word is a fallible incantation.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
