weakness
n.-
1 lack of strength (n.) B1 Intermediatethe state of not being strong, either in your body or your character.
the state or condition of lacking physical strength, mental resolve, or moral power.
ExampleAfter the long illness, he felt a great deal of weakness in his legs.
ExampleThe regime's inherent weakness became apparent when it failed to respond effectively to the initial wave of peaceful protests.
Usageuncountable in this general sense
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2 a fault or defect (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea specific part of someone's character or a thing that is not good enough.
a specific flaw, shortcoming, or disadvantage in a person, argument, or object.
ExampleThe coach pointed out several weaknesses in the team's defense.
ExampleWhile the essay was well-researched, its primary weakness lay in the author's failure to address conflicting evidence from recent studies.
Usagecountable; often used when evaluating performance or plans
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3 a special fondness (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea strong liking for something that you find hard to resist, even if it is not good for you.
a particular fondness or inability to resist something indulgent.
ExampleI have a real weakness for chocolate cake after dinner.
ExampleDespite his disciplined lifestyle, he confessed to having a lifelong weakness for expensive Italian leather shoes.
Usageusually follows the pattern 'a weakness for [something]'
From Middle English wayknesse, weykenesse, replacing earlier Middle English wocnesse, wakenes, wacnesse (“weakness”), from Old English wācnes (“weakness”). Equivalent to weak + -ness.