Etymology

kryptonite

K5R1Y4P3T1O1N1I1T1E1

Today it means: The one weakness of something or someone that is otherwise invulnerable. Full definition →

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The story

From a fictional radioactive element, kryptonite, that has a detrimental effect on the otherwise invulnerable character Superman. Formed from Superman's home planet Krypton + -ite, which was named after the chemical element krypton.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.