frail
1 Americannoun
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a flexible basket made of rushes, used especially for dried fruits, as dates, figs, or raisins.
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a certain quantity of raisins, about 75 pounds (34 kilograms), contained in such a basket.
adjective
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physically weak and delicate
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fragile
a frail craft
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easily corrupted or tempted
noun
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a rush basket for figs or raisins
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a quantity of raisins or figs equal to between 50 and 75 pounds
Sensitive Note
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.
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
- frailly adverb
- frailness noun
Etymology
Origin of frail1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English frail(e), frel(e), from Old French, from Latin fragilis fragile
Origin of frail2
First recorded 1300–50; Middle English frayel, fraelle, from Old French frayel; further origin unknown
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“For too long, women going into perimenopause and menopause just drifted along, suffering through symptoms. Eventually, they maybe found out they had frail bones and were put on medicines,” says Dr. Tang.
Most evidence for the health benefits of diets that exclude meat comes from studies of younger adults rather than frail older populations.
From Science Daily
I looked at Gran’s frail and withered frame.
From Literature
He announced last week that he would not be present at this week's hearing, saying he is "old, tired and frail", while condemning the charges as "an outrageous lie".
From BBC
He followed his initial hearing three days later by video link, appearing dazed and frail and barely speaking.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
