Meanings
nounweakest link (plural weakest links)
plural weakest links · alternative weak link
- alsofigurativelyThe part of a system that is most likely to cause problems or fail.
Synonyms: Achilles heel, weak point
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe part of a system that is most likely to cause problems or fail.
Similar
Also see
Origin
The figurative sense comes by metaphor from the literal sense: the notion that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. (See historical details there.)
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic الحَلَقَةُ الأَضْعَف
- الحَلَقَةُ الأَضْعَف (al-ḥalaqatu l-ʔaḍʕaf)the part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
Dutch zwakste schakel
- zwakste schakelthe part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
Finnish heikoin lenkki
- heikoin lenkkithe part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
French maillon faible
- maillon faiblethe part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
German schwächstes Glied
- schwächstes Gliedthe part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
Hungarian leggyengébb láncszem
- leggyengébb láncszemthe part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
Italian anello debole
- anello debolethe part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
Polish najsłabsze ogniwo
- najsłabsze ogniwothe part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
Russian сла́бое звено́
- сла́бое звено́ (sláboje zvenó)the part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
Spanish eslabón más débil, eslabón perdido
- eslabón más débilthe part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
- eslabón perdidothe part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
Swedish svagaste länken, akilleshäl
- svagaste länkenthe part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
- akilleshälthe part of a system that is most likely to fail or cause problems
Cite this entry
APA
weakest link. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/weakest%20link
MLA
“weakest link.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/weakest%20link. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “weakest link,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/weakest%20link.
Source: weakest link on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.