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Synonyms

flaw

1 American  
[flaw] / flɔ /

noun

  1. a feature that mars the perfection of something; defect; fault.

    beauty without flaw; the flaws in our plan.
    Synonyms:
    spot, blot, imperfection

  2. a defect impairing legal soundness or validity.

  3. a crack, break, breach, or rent.

    Synonyms:
    rift, fissure

verb (used with object)

  1. to produce a flaw in.

verb (used without object)

  1. to contract a flaw; become cracked or defective.

flaw 2 American  
[flaw] / flɔ /

noun

  1. Also called windflaw.  a sudden, usually brief windstorm or gust of wind.

  2. a short spell of rough weather.

  3. Obsolete. a burst of feeling, fury, etc.

flaw 1 British  
/ flɔː /

noun

  1. an imperfection, defect, or blemish

  2. a crack, breach, or rift

  3. law an invalidating fault or defect in a document or proceeding

"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

verb

  1. to make or become blemished, defective, or imperfect

"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
flaw 2 British  
/ flɔː /

noun

    1. a sudden short gust of wind; squall

    2. a spell of bad, esp windy, weather

  2. obsolete an outburst of strong feeling

"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

Related Words

See defect.

Other Word Forms

  • flawless adjective
  • flawlessly adverb
  • flawlessness noun
  • flawy adjective

Etymology

Origin of flaw1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English flage, flaw(e), perhaps from Old Norse flaga “sliver, flake”

Origin of flaw2

First recorded in 1475–85, flaw is from the Old Norse word flaga attack, squall

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.

Despite historical flaws in practice, it rests on the foundational claim that individuals have the right to choose their government and hold it accountable.

From Salon

Hudson returned to the realm of music with the flawed yet prestigious “Nine,” which showed off her singing chops and drew a SAG Award ensemble nomination, her highest recognition post-“Almost Famous.”

From Los Angeles Times

Unlike restless Nora, Agnes is married with a son, able to view her deeply flawed dad from the vantage point of both a daughter and mother.

From Los Angeles Times

Together, they published research showing how flawed measurement methods can fuel inaccurate assumptions about eating behavior.

From Science Daily

Amid the online firestorm, Grok sought to assure users on Friday that it was scrambling to fix flaws in the tool.

From Barron's

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.