adjective
Uncommon
frail
frayl
Frail (adjective) means Physically weak or delicate, especially due to age or illness. Example: “Her grandmother had grown frail after the long winter.”
adjective
1
Physically weak or delicate, especially due to age or illness.
"Her grandmother had grown frail after the long winter."
"The frail old bridge swayed with every step."
2
Easily broken down morally or emotionally; not firm in resolve.
"His frail willpower gave way after just one temptation."
How to use frail
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWeak and delicate — usually describing a person's health, but sometimes their resolve.
Common mistake
Frail is almost always used for people (their body or health); fragile is used more broadly for objects and situations.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
frail health
frail elderly
grow frail
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Word forms
- Plural
- frails
- Third person singular
- frails
- Past tense
- frailed
- Comparative
- frailer
- Superlative
- frailest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her grandmother had grown _____ after the long winter.
Etymology
From Old French fraile, from Latin fragilis ("breakable") — a doublet of "fragile."
Related words
Rhymes for frail
See all rhymes for frail →Frequently asked questions
What does “frail” mean?
The word “frail” means physically weak or delicate, especially due to age or illness. In plain terms, weak and delicate — usually describing a person's health, but sometimes their resolve.
How do you pronounce “frail”?
“Frail” is pronounced frayl (/fɹeɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “frail” in a sentence?
Here is “frail” used in a sentence: “Her grandmother had grown frail after the long winter.”
What part of speech is “frail”?
“Frail” is an adjective.
Where does the word “frail” come from?
The word “frail” comes from Latin. From Old French fraile, from Latin fragilis ("breakable") — a doublet of "fragile.".
Is “frail” a common word?
“Frail” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “frail” have?
“Frail” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: physically weak or delicate, especially due to age or illness.
