# brittle

/ˈbɹɪtəɫ/ (US) · /bɹˈɪtəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brittle
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

hard and easily broken into many pieces. You use this to describe things that snap or shatter when they are pressed or pulled.

For teachers: susceptible to fracture or shattering upon deformation rather than undergoing plastic strain. Adjective.

## Examples

- The old plastic becomes brittle and snaps easily.
- Cold weather makes the metal pipes brittle, increasing the risk of sudden leaks during the winter.
- Materials science distinguishes between tough substances that absorb impact and brittle ones that fail catastrophically without significant prior deformation when subjected to excessive force.

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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.