adj
flimsy
FLIHM-zee
Flimsy (adj) means Easily broken or damaged; not sturdy. Example: “The umbrella was so flimsy it snapped in the first gust of wind.”
adj
1
Easily broken or damaged; not sturdy.
"The umbrella was so flimsy it snapped in the first gust of wind."
2
Unconvincing or weak, especially describing an argument or excuse.
"The lawyer dismissed the alibi as a flimsy excuse."
How to use flimsy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThin and weak — either physically (flimsy material) or logically (a flimsy excuse).
Common pairings
flimsy excuse
flimsy material
flimsy evidence
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Word forms
- Plural
- flimsies
- Third person singular
- flimsies
- Past tense
- flimsied
- Comparative
- flimsier, more flimsy
- Superlative
- flimsiest, most flimsy
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The umbrella was so _____ it snapped in the first gust of wind.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; possibly related to flim-flam ("nonsense, trickery") or a reshuffling of film ("thin layer") with the suffix -sy.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for flimsy
See all rhymes for flimsy →Frequently asked questions
What does “flimsy” mean?
The word “flimsy” means easily broken or damaged; not sturdy. In plain terms, thin and weak — either physically (flimsy material) or logically (a flimsy excuse).
How do you pronounce “flimsy”?
“Flimsy” is pronounced FLIHM-zee (/ˈflɪmzi/ in IPA).
How do you use “flimsy” in a sentence?
Here is “flimsy” used in a sentence: “The umbrella was so flimsy it snapped in the first gust of wind.”
What part of speech is “flimsy”?
“Flimsy” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “flimsy” have?
“Flimsy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: easily broken or damaged; not sturdy.
