weakness
Weakness (noun) means the state of lacking strength or power. Example: “The weakness in her wrist made typing painful.”
How to use weakness
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLack of strength, a personal flaw, or (informally) a soft spot for something you find hard to resist.
Word forms
weaknesses plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ in her wrist made typing painful.
Etymology
From Middle English wayknesse, weykenesse, replacing earlier Middle English wocnesse, wakenes, wacnesse (“weakness”), from Old English wācnes (“weakness”). Equivalent to weak + -ness.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “weakness” mean?
The word “weakness” means the state of lacking strength or power. In plain terms, lack of strength, a personal flaw, or (informally) a soft spot for something you find hard to resist.
How do you pronounce “weakness”?
“Weakness” is pronounced WEEK-nihs (/ˈwik.nɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “weakness” in a sentence?
Here is “weakness” used in a sentence: “The weakness in her wrist made typing painful.”
What part of speech is “weakness”?
“Weakness” is a noun.
Is “weakness” a common word?
“Weakness” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “weakness” have?
“Weakness” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the state of lacking strength or power.
What is the difference between "weakness" and "flaw"?
"Weakness" can mean a lack of strength or power, or a shortcoming, and it can be physical, emotional, or structural. A "flaw" is specifically an imperfection or fault in something, so a flaw is one kind of weakness but weakness also covers a general absence of strength.
What is the opposite of "weakness"?
The opposite of "weakness" depends on the sense. When it means lacking strength or power, the opposite is "strength"; when it means a flaw or shortcoming, the opposite is closer to a "strong point" or "asset."
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