# frailty

/ˈfɹeɪɫti/ (US) · /fɹˈeɪlti/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/frailty
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

the state of being physically weak or easily broken. It can also describe a lack of strength in a person's character or a system.

For teachers: the state of being physically weak or easily broken; a lack of strength or stability in a person, system, or structure.

## Examples

- The old man's frailty made it hard for him to walk.
- The architect warned that the building's structural frailty could lead to a collapse during a storm.
- The protagonist's journey is defined by a struggle against his own physical frailty, which serves as a metaphor for the inevitable decline of human ambition.

---

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.