# fragility

/fɹəˈdʒɪɫəti/ (US) · /fɹædʒˈɪlɪti/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fragility
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

the quality of being easily broken or damaged. It describes things that are not strong enough to survive a lot of pressure or stress.

For teachers: the quality of being easily broken, damaged, or destroyed. Often used in technical contexts to describe the vulnerability of a system or the physical weakness of a material.

## Examples

- The glass has a high level of fragility.
- The engineer warned that the bridge's structural fragility could lead to a collapse during a major earthquake.
- The company's market share is vulnerable to the fragility of its supply chain, which relies on a single port for all its raw materials.

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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.