tragic flaw

[ traj-ik flaw ]
See synonyms for tragic flaw on Thesaurus.com
nounLiterature.
  1. the character defect that causes the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy; hamartia.

Origin of tragic flaw

1
First recorded in 1950–55

Words Nearby tragic flaw

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for tragic flaw

tragic flaw

noun
  1. a failing of character in the hero of a tragedy that brings about his downfall

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