Word of the Day ·

F4R1A1G2I1L1E1

fragile

fra·gil

Australia, Canada, UK/ˈfɹæd͡ʒaɪl/US/ˈfɹæd͡ʒəl/

adjective

What it means

  1. Easily broken, not sturdy; of delicate material.

    The chemist synthesizes a fragile molecule.

    1 more example

    She caught the fragile vase before it could shatter on the floor.

  2. figurativelyReadily disrupted or destroyed.

    The UN tries to maintain the fragile peace process in the region.

    Synonyms: uneasy

  3. UKFeeling weak or easily disturbed as a result of illness.

In a sentence

She caught the fragile vase before it could shatter on the floor.

Where it comes from

  1. Latinfragilis
  2. Middle Frenchfragile
  3. Englishfragile

Borrowed from Middle French fragile, from Latin fragilis, formed on frag-, the root of frangere (“to break”). Cognate with fraction, fracture and doublet of frail.

Full entry for fragile →

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