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
- fallibility noun
- fallibleness noun
- fallibly adverb
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
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.
Clemency used to be a consistent failsafe for an often fallible system.
From Slate • Mar. 6, 2026
Bentley leveled the playing field by creating a fallible detective against whom the reader could compete.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026
Such struggles are reminders of how the Dodgers remain fallible in their pursuit of another World Series.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 13, 2025
The film presents the cardinals as fallible human beings jostling for power.
From BBC • May 1, 2025
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.
