adj
infirm
ihn-FURM
Infirm (adj) means Physically weak or in poor health, especially due to age or illness. Example: “Her grandfather had become too infirm to live alone.”
adj
1
Physically weak or in poor health, especially due to age or illness.
"Her grandfather had become too infirm to live alone."
"The charity provides meals for elderly and infirm residents."
How to use infirm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWeak or frail, usually because of old age or sickness.
Common pairings
old and infirm
infirm patient
become infirm
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- infirms
- Past tense
- infirmed
- Comparative
- infirmer
- Superlative
- infirmest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her grandfather had become too _____ to live alone.
Etymology
From Latin infirmus, "weak, feeble."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “infirm” mean?
The word “infirm” means physically weak or in poor health, especially due to age or illness. In plain terms, weak or frail, usually because of old age or sickness.
How do you pronounce “infirm”?
“Infirm” is pronounced ihn-FURM (/ɪnˈfɜɹm/ in IPA).
How do you use “infirm” in a sentence?
Here is “infirm” used in a sentence: “Her grandfather had become too infirm to live alone.”
What is another word for “infirm”?
Words with a similar meaning to “infirm” include crank, ill, sick and unwell.
What is the opposite of “infirm”?
The opposite of “infirm” — its antonyms — is confirm.
What part of speech is “infirm”?
“Infirm” is an adjective.
Where does the word “infirm” come from?
The word “infirm” comes from Latin. From Latin infirmus, "weak, feeble.".
