weakness

American  

[week-nis] / ˈwik nɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being weak; lack of strength, firmness, vigor, or the like; feebleness.

   Synonyms:

   fragility

   Antonyms:

   strength

2. an inadequate or defective quality, as in a person's character; slight fault or defect.

   to show great sympathy for human weaknesses.

   Synonyms:

   flaw

3. a self-indulgent liking or special fondness, as for a particular thing.

   I've always had a weakness for the opera.

   Synonyms:

   appetite, hunger, passion, penchant

4. an object of special desire; something very difficult to resist.

   Chocolates were her weakness.

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weakness British  

/ ˈwiːknɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being weak

2. a deficiency or failing, as in a person's character

3. a self-indulgent fondness or liking

   a weakness for chocolates

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weakness Idioms  

1. see have a weakness for.

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Related Words

See fault.

Other Word Forms

• nonweakness noun

Etymology

Origin of weakness

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English waikenes, weikenes. See weak, -ness

Explanation

The point where something fails to work properly or to hold up is its weakness. If a building crumbles in a storm, it's probably because of a weakness — a flaw or defect — in its structure. Weakness can indicate a physical weakness, like a chair with one wobbly leg, or flaw in an idea, like a plan for a lemonade stand that doesn't include any cups for serving the lemonade. People can show weakness too, when they are helpless to take action. The origin of weakness can be traced all the way back to its Proto-Indo-European root of weik, "to bend."

Example Sentences

Sudden weakness on one side of the body.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Demand at the German auction will be gauged for signs of weakness after some “technically uncovered” German auctions recently.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

However, this is being offset by sluggish demand in traditional automakers and electric vehicles as well as weakness in consumer electronics, which are getting squeezed due to increased memory costs.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

March's sales figures were impacted by a drop in consumer confidence and weakness in the US jobs market, NAR chief economist Dr Lawrence Yun said.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

A weakness, beginning inwardly, extending to the limbs, seized me, and I fell: I lay on the ground some minutes, pressing my face to the wet turf.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

• deficiency
• failing
• flaw
• fragility
• frailty
• gap
• instability
• lack
• lapse
• shortcoming
• vulnerability