# weakening

/ˈwikənɪŋ/ (US) · /wˈiːkənɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/weakening
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. loss of strength

noun · CEFR B2

the process of becoming less strong, powerful, or effective.

For teachers: the process or instance of losing strength, intensity, or structural integrity.

- The doctor was concerned about the gradual weakening of the patient's heart muscles.
- The sudden weakening of the currency led to a sharp increase in the cost of imported raw materials, destabilising the local manufacturing sector.

### 2. logic and proofs

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a rule in math and logic that says you can add extra facts to a proof without changing the result.

For teachers: a structural rule in many systems of logic stating that the hypotheses of any derived fact may be extended with additional assumptions.

- In this logic exercise, we use weakening to add a new premise to the argument.
- The proof relies on the principle of weakening, which allows the introduction of irrelevant premises without affecting the validity of the conclusion.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialised term in formal logic; most learners will only encounter the general sense of losing strength.

## Examples

- The weakening of the currency made imports more expensive.
- Economists are concerned about the gradual weakening of consumer demand as interest rates continue to rise.
- The structural weakening of the bridge was not immediately apparent to the naked eye, requiring ultrasonic testing to reveal the internal fractures in the steel supports.

---

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.