frail

¹

[freyl]

adjective

frailer, frailest 

1. having delicate health; not robust; weak.

   My grandfather is rather frail now.

   Synonyms: frangible, breakable, feeble
   Antonyms: sturdy

2. easily broken or destroyed; fragile.

   Synonyms: frangible, breakable, feeble
   Antonyms: sturdy

3. morally weak; easily tempted.

noun

1. Older Slang: Sometimes Offensive.,  a term used to refer to a girl or woman.

frail

²

[freyl]

noun

1. a flexible basket made of rushes, used especially for dried fruits, as dates, figs, or raisins.

2. a certain quantity of raisins, about 75 pounds (34 kilograms), contained in such a basket.

frail

¹

/ freɪl /

adjective

1. physically weak and delicate

2. fragile

   a frail craft

3. easily corrupted or tempted

frail

²

/ freɪl /

noun

1. a rush basket for figs or raisins

2. a quantity of raisins or figs equal to between 50 and 75 pounds

Sensitive Note

This term is sometimes perceived as insulting or condescending when used to refer to a woman, since it reinforces the stereotype of a weak female.

Other Word Forms

• frailness noun
• frailly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of frail¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English frail(e), frel(e), from Old French, from Latin fragilis fragile

Origin of frail²

First recorded 1300–50; Middle English frayel, fraelle, from Old French frayel; further origin unknown

Word History and Origins

Origin of frail¹

C13: from Old French frele , from Latin fragilis , _fragile

Origin of frail²

C13: from Old French fraiel , of uncertain origin

Synonym Study

Frail, brittle, fragile imply a delicacy or weakness of substance or construction. Frail applies particularly to health and immaterial things: a frail constitution; frail hopes. Brittle implies a hard material that snaps or breaks to pieces easily: brittle as glass. Fragile implies that the object must be handled carefully to avoid breakage or damage: fragile bric-a-brac.

Example Sentences

The more he tries to appear mighty, the more he seems increasingly frail in his rapidly aging body.

From Salon

She was frail, but as always extremely glamorous and totally captivating.

From BBC

The band missed a day in the recording studio because of the delay, but Steadman "felt much, much worse for the others", which included passengers who were "very young and very frail".

From BBC

Once the backbone of the country's agricultural sector, many of them are now elderly, visibly frail, battling illness and financially desperate.

From BBC

"But even though she was weak and frail, the crocodiles were no match for her," Mr Rai says.

From BBC

Related Words

• decrepit 
• feeble 
• fragile 
• infirm 
• sickly 
• slender 
• slim 
• thin 
• vulnerable