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Added 9 October 2026

fragile

/ˈfɹæd͡ʒaɪl/ adjective

In Latin: fragilis Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about fragile at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Easily broken or damaged or destroyed.
a kite too delicate to fly safely
Vulnerably delicate.
she has the fragile beauty of youth
Lacking substance or significance.
slight evidence

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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