# weaker vessel

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/weaker-vessel
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A woman; women collectively.

## Examples

- In older stories, men often called women the weaker vessel.
- The author used the term weaker vessel to describe the female characters in his historical novel.
- While the phrase weaker vessel reflects outdated social attitudes, it remains a common reference point in studies of historical literature and gender roles.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.