hamartia

[hah-mahr-tee-uh]

noun

1. tragic flaw.

hamartia

/ həˈmɑːtɪə /

noun

1. literature the flaw in character which leads to the downfall of the protagonist in a tragedy

Word History and Origins

Origin of hamartia¹

First recorded in 1890–95; Greek hamartía “failure, fault,” derivative of hamartánein “to miss the mark, fail, err” + -ia noun suffix; -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of hamartia¹

C19: from Greek

Example Sentences

I would email her study guides saying “What do you think Oedipus’s hamartia was? What is your hamartia?” but when I saw her it was always difficult to work into conversation.

From Washington Post

If you’re unfamiliar with hamartia, it may sound like the sort of medication your family doctor would prescribe to ward off a series of colds or a massive coronary.

From The Guardian

“A hamartia?” he asked, the cigarette still in his mouth.

From Literature

An instance is provided by Aristotle's famous saying that the typical tragic hero is one who falls from high state or fame, not through vice or depravity, but by some great hamartia.

From Project Gutenberg

Do forgive the remote diagnosis but it’s clear by now that Maria Sharapova has tested positive for hamartia.

From The Guardian