frail
1 Americanadjective
-
frailer,
comparative
-
frailest
superlative
noun
noun
-
a flexible basket made of rushes, used especially for dried fruits, as dates, figs, or raisins.
-
a certain quantity of raisins, about 75 pounds (34 kilograms), contained in such a basket.
adjective
-
physically weak and delicate
-
fragile
a frail craft
-
easily corrupted or tempted
noun
-
a rush basket for figs or raisins
-
a quantity of raisins or figs equal to between 50 and 75 pounds
Sensitive Note
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.
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of frail1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English frail(e), frel(e), from Old French, from Latin fragilis fragile
Origin of frail2
First recorded 1300–50; Middle English frayel, fraelle, from Old French frayel; further origin unknown
Explanation
Something that is delicate and fragile can be described as frail. Grandma's favorite vase is probably too frail to use for football practice; some of us have learned that the hard way. Frail can also be used to describe a person's physical condition: "When I broke my grandmother's vase, she yelled in a voice so loud that it was hard to believe it was coming from her small, frail frame." Another way to use frail is in reference to a person's emotional state. As the poet Sylvia Plath astutely observed, "How frail the human heart must be."
Vocabulary lists containing frail
"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury
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!
"Thank You, M'am"
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!
The Things They Carried
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.
See Examples For:
This treatment clears space in the bone marrow for the incoming cells, but it can be extremely taxing, particularly for older or medically frail patients.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026
“Poor grip strength indicates that you’re at risk of losing function, you’re at risk of falling, you’re at risk of becoming frail and losing mobility,” says Fried.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
There are exemptions for being a parent to young children, serving as a caregiver or being medically frail.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
For 32 years, the women's 800m was absent from the Olympics, with its competitors deemed too frail.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Fadi glanced back and saw his father push a wad of cash toward the frail white-haired taxi driver, who shook his head.
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
That made it possible for older, frailer patients to survive with “mini-transplants.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026
"But we know the longer you spend in hospital the more patients are at risk of getting frailer, losing strength and needing more care."
From BBC ● Jan. 11, 2026
This previously manifested through mostly vibes-based measures: Does his voice sound a little frailer?
From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2025
All three can also be self-reinforcing over time: people who are lonely and socially isolated may become frailer, and as they become frailer, their sense of isolation and loneliness grows.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 14, 2024
“There you are,” said Hodza, a handsome boy of Tendai’s age but of a frailer build.
From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer
These tend to be the sickest and frailest patient - and this wait comes after they have already waited to be seen in the first place after arriving at A&E.
From BBC ● Feb. 15, 2024
Most of the frailest and oldest survivors contacted have refused to leave home.
From New York Times ● Apr. 29, 2022
Unable to speak, Qawasmi, 24, is the frailest of the six.
From Reuters ● Nov. 10, 2021
“Even people in their frailest state, in a wheelchair about ready to pass any day were coming out,” said Roxy.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 18, 2021
He was kneeling by the Zanies, the frailest ones, the fuse-points; both of them lay huddled up on the floor.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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.
