weakest link
Britishnoun
Etymology
Origin of weakest link
C20: from the British television quiz of the same name
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.
Domestic demand dampened by low income expectations remains China's "weakest link", Yue Su of The Economist Intelligence Unit told AFP.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Mr Mitchelson, formerly director of National Digital and chief information security officer for NHS National Services Scotland, said IT systems were only ever as secure as the weakest link in the chain.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2025
“In cybersecurity, the weakest link is often the human element.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2025
Williams wants to write songs for the band, but given that he is the youngest and weakest link, he is eventually asked to leave.
From Salon ● Jan. 10, 2025
If someone puts his own needs first—whether he is injured, sick, or simply refuses to cooperate—that person becomes the weakest link.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
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.
