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

Easily broken or damaged; not sturdy.

"The umbrella was so flimsy it snapped in the first gust of wind."

Unconvincing or weak, especially describing an argument or excuse.

"The lawyer dismissed the alibi as a flimsy excuse."

How to use flimsy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThin and weak — either physically (flimsy material) or logically (a flimsy excuse).

Common pairings

flimsy excuse flimsy material flimsy evidence

Word forms

flimsier comparative, more flimsy comparative, flimsied past tense, flimsies plural, flimsies singular, flimsiest superlative, most flimsy superlative

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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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unconvincing

Related words

lame unconvincing cogent

Rhymes for flimsy

mimsy whimsy

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.

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