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Added 9 October 2026

frail

/fɹeɪl/ adjective

Latin root: fragilis Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about frail at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Easily broken physically; not firm or durable; liable to fail and perish.
Weak; infirm.
In an infirm state leading one to be easily subject to disease or other health problems, especially regarding the elderly.

verb

To play a stringed instrument, usually a banjo, by picking with the back of a fingernail.

noun

A basket made of rushes, used chiefly to hold figs and raisins.
The quantity of fruit or other items contained in a frail.
A rush for weaving baskets.

noun

Synonym of farasola (“old unit of weight”).

Origin

From Middle English frele, fraill, from Old French fraile, from Latin fragilis. Cognate to fraction, fracture, and doublet of fragile.

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

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