frailty

[freyl-tee, frey-uhl-]

noun

plural

frailties 

1. the quality or state of being frail.

   Synonyms: weakness, delicacy

2. moral weakness; liability to yield to temptation.

3. a fault resulting from moral weakness.

   frailties of the human flesh.

   Synonyms: defect, flaw

frailty

/ ˈfreɪltɪ /

noun

1. physical or moral weakness

2. (often plural) a fault symptomatic of moral weakness

Other Word Forms

• overfrailty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of frailty¹

1300–50; Middle English frailte, frelete < Old French frailete < Latin fragilitāt- (stem of fragilitās ). See frail ¹, -ity

Example Sentences

But Liverpool's pressure failed to produce a second goal and their defensive frailties were punished in the 56th minute.

Read more on Barron's

Body MRI can track muscle mass, which serves as a marker for efforts to reduce frailty and strengthen overall health.

Read more on Science Daily

But City's frailties in their revamped defence were exposed again in the 54th minute.

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All the frailties were on show, from conceding the opening goal to Murillo from a corner.

Read more on BBC

The fiscal frailty leaves Saudi Arabia with a weakened hand in the craft of checkbook diplomacy, a favored tool of the U.S. president.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• defect 
• deficiency 
• failing 
• fallibility 
• foible 
• imperfection 
• infirmity 
• shortcoming