What does "fragile" mean?

1. (easily broken) easily broken or damaged because it is delicate. 2. (weak or unstable) not strong and likely to fail or change easily. 3. (feeling unwell) feeling weak or sick, especially after drinking too much alcohol or being ill. 4. (easily upset) easily hurt or annoyed by what other people say.

fragile

adj.

US //ˈfɹædʒəɫ// UK //fɹˈædʒaɪl// frag·ile

1 easily broken (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

easily broken or damaged because it is delicate.

easily broken, shattered, or damaged; typically used of materials like glass or porcelain.

Example

Be careful with those wine glasses; they are very fragile.

Example

The museum staff used specialized foam to pack the fragile Ming dynasty vases for their overseas journey.
- delicate
- brittle
- breakable
2 weak or unstable (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

not strong and likely to fail or change easily.

vulnerable to disruption or collapse; used of abstract concepts like peace, health, or economies.

Example

The peace between the two countries is still very fragile.

Example

Economists warned that the recovery remained fragile, as consumer spending had not yet returned to pre-crisis levels.

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3 feeling unwell (adj.)
C1 Advanced British English Informal

feeling weak or sick, especially after drinking too much alcohol or being ill.

physically or mentally vulnerable due to illness or exhaustion; frequently used to describe a hangover.

Example

I'm feeling a bit fragile this morning after the party last night.

Example

He looked remarkably fragile during the press conference, suggesting he had not yet fully recovered from the flu.
- healthy
- energetic
4 easily upset (adj.)
C1 Advanced Formal

easily hurt or annoyed by what other people say.

psychologically vulnerable or oversensitive to criticism.

Example

You have to be careful what you say to him because his ego is quite fragile.

Example

The director's fragile temperament made it difficult for the cast to offer any constructive feedback during rehearsals.
- sensitive
- thin skinned
- thick skinned
- resilient

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French fragile, from Latin fragilis, formed on frag-, the root of frangere (“to break”). Cognate with fraction, fracture and doublet of frail.