frailty

/ˈfreɪlti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfreɪlti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfrāl-tē/ (ame, mw)

frailty — noun

  • frailtysingular
  • frailtiesplural

1. the condition of being physically weak, especially because of old age or illness

1.名詞B2
釋義

the condition of being physically weak, especially because of old age or illness, which makes everyday activities difficult to do

例句

After her long illness, Grandmother Mei-Lin's frailty made it hard for her to lift a teacup.

frailty + possessive showing personal condition

The doctor said that Grandpa Hiroyuki's increasing frailty was a natural part of growing older.

同義詞
  • weakness

    more general and common; frailty specifically suggests weakness from age or illness

  • feebleness

    even weaker and more helpless in tone, less common

  • infirmity

    formal; refers to long-term physical weakness or disability, especially in older adults

反義詞
  • strength

    general opposite; physical robustness

  • vigour

    implies active energy and health, not just absence of weakness

文法句型

frailty + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently describes the physical decline that comes with advanced age or prolonged illness. The plural form 'frailties' is rare in this sense and usually appears in literary contexts referring to the weaknesses of the body as a group.

常見錯誤

❌The old chair's frailty worried me.
✅The old chair's fragility worried me.
💡'Frailty' describes living beings (people, animals); 'fragility' describes objects that break or collapse easily.
❌The doctor treated his frailty with strong medicine.
✅The doctor recommended a gentle diet and light exercise for his frailty.
💡Frailty is a condition, not a disease; it is managed through care, not cured with medication.

2. the part of a person's character that is not strong enough to resist temptation

2.名詞C1
釋義

the part of a person's character that is not strong enough to resist temptation or bad behaviour, even when they know it is wrong

例句

The novel explores human frailty, showing how ordinary people give in to greed and fear.

human frailty — fixed phrase for universal moral weakness

Ananya admitted that envy was her greatest frailty, especially when she saw her friends succeed.

同義詞
  • weakness

    more general; frailty in this sense carries a gentler, more forgiving tone

  • failing

    a specific shortcoming in character; slightly more formal

  • flaw

    a defect in character; 'character flaw' is a common phrase

  • foible

    a minor, often endearing weakness; lighter and more forgiving in tone

反義詞
  • virtue

    moral excellence or strength of character

  • fortitude

    mental and emotional strength to face difficulty without giving in

文法句型

frailty of + abstract noun

possessive + frailty

用法筆記

Common in the fixed phrase 'human frailty', which refers to the limitations and weaknesses shared by all people. This sense is frequently found in literary, philosophical, and formal discussions of character. Unlike sense 1, this sense is regularly used as a countable noun: 'We all have our frailties.'

常見錯誤

❌His physical frailty made him cheat on the test.
✅His moral frailty made him cheat on the test.
💡Physical frailty is about the body, not character; use 'moral frailty' or just 'frailty' when referring to ethical weakness.
❌The bridge collapsed because of its frailty.
✅The bridge collapsed because of its structural weakness.
💡Frailty is for people and character, not for buildings or objects.