# weakness

/ˈwiknəs/ (US) · /wˈiːknəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/weakness
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. lack of strength

noun · CEFR B1

the state of not being strong, either in your body or your character.

For teachers: the state or condition of lacking physical strength, mental resolve, or moral power.

- After the long illness, he felt a great deal of weakness in his legs.
- The regime's inherent weakness became apparent when it failed to respond effectively to the initial wave of peaceful protests.

Usage: uncountable in this general sense

### 2. a fault or defect

noun · CEFR B2

a specific part of someone's character or a thing that is not good enough.

For teachers: a specific flaw, shortcoming, or disadvantage in a person, argument, or object.

- The coach pointed out several weaknesses in the team's defense.
- While the essay was well-researched, its primary weakness lay in the author's failure to address conflicting evidence from recent studies.

Usage: countable; often used when evaluating performance or plans

### 3. a special fondness

noun · CEFR B2

a strong liking for something that you find hard to resist, even if it is not good for you.

For teachers: a particular fondness or inability to resist something indulgent.

- I have a real weakness for chocolate cake after dinner.
- Despite his disciplined lifestyle, he confessed to having a lifelong weakness for expensive Italian leather shoes.

Usage: usually follows the pattern 'a weakness for [something]'

## Examples

- Eating too much chocolate is my main weakness.
- The manager identified a weakness in the team's communication strategy during the busy holiday season.
- While the bridge appeared aesthetically pleasing, engineers discovered a structural weakness in the support beams that necessitated an immediate closure for repairs.

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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.