hamartia

American  

[hah-mahr-tee-uh] / ˌhɑ mɑrˈti ə /

noun

1. tragic flaw.

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hamartia British  

/ həˈmɑːtɪə /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of hamartia

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

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

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

From The Guardian

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

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

Pretty much ever since, critics have spent a lot of time arguing whether hamartia means a moral flaw or a tragic error.

From The Guardian