frail
1
[ freyl ]
/ freɪl /
adjective, frail·er, frail·est.
having delicate health; not robust; weak: My grandfather is rather frail now.
easily broken or destroyed; fragile.
morally weak; easily tempted.
noun
Older Slang: Sometimes Offensive.
a term used to refer to a girl or woman.
Origin of frail
1SYNONYMS FOR frail
1, 2
feeble;
breakable,
frangible.
Frail,
brittle,
fragile imply a delicacy or weakness of substance or construction.
Frail applies particularly to health and immaterial things:
a frail constitution; frail hopes.
Brittle implies a hard material that snaps or breaks to pieces easily:
brittle as glass.
Fragile implies that the object must be handled carefully to avoid breakage or damage:
fragile bric-a-brac.
usage note for frail
This term is sometimes perceived as insulting or condescending when used to refer to a woman, since it reinforces the stereotype of a weak female.
OTHER WORDS FROM frail
frail·ly, adverb frail·ness, nounWords nearby frail
Definition for frail (2 of 2)
frail
2
[ freyl ]
/ freɪl /
noun
a flexible basket made of rushes, used especially for dried fruits, as dates, figs, or raisins.
a certain quantity of raisins, about 75 pounds (34 kg), contained in such a basket.
Origin of frail
2
1300–50; Middle English
frayel, fraelle < Old French
frayel < ?
Example sentences from the Web for frail
British Dictionary definitions for frail (1 of 2)
frail
1
/ (freɪl) /
adjective
physically weak and delicate
fragile
a frail craft
easily corrupted or tempted
Derived forms of frail
frailly, adverb frailness, nounWord Origin for frail
C13: from Old French
frele, from Latin
fragilis,
fragile
British Dictionary definitions for frail (2 of 2)
frail
2
/ (freɪl) /
noun
a rush basket for figs or raisins
a quantity of raisins or figs equal to between 50 and 75 pounds
Word Origin for frail
C13: from Old French
fraiel, of uncertain origin