weakness

weakness — noun

1. The condition of having very little physical power or force, making it difficult

1.nounA2
Definition

The condition of having very little physical power or force, making it difficult to move, lift things, or resist pressure.

Example

After three days without food, Tendai felt a terrible weakness in his legs and could barely stand.

weakness in + body part

The old wooden bridge had a structural weakness that engineers discovered during the safety inspection.

structural weakness (inanimate subject)

Common collocations
  • muscle weakness
  • general weakness
  • physical weakness
  • weakness in the legs
  • feel a weakness
Synonyms
  • feebleness

    more extreme; suggests someone can barely move or function

  • frailty

    focuses on fragile health, often due to age or illness

  • fragility

    emphasizes how easily something breaks or gives way

Antonyms
  • strength

    the opposite condition of having physical power

  • vigour

    implies active, energetic strength

Grammar Patterns

weakness of [body part]

weakness in [body part]

Usage Note

Common in medical contexts to describe a patient's reduced physical capacity. Can be general ('general weakness') or localized ('muscle weakness', 'weakness in the legs').

Common Mistakes

He had weakness after running.
He felt weakness in his legs after running.
'weakness' usually needs a location or context: weakness in a body part or general weakness.

2. A shortcoming in a person's character, a system, or a plan that reduces effectiv

2.nounB1
Definition

A shortcoming in a person's character, a system, or a plan that reduces effectiveness or creates the potential for mistakes.

Example

One major weakness of Christopher's proposal was that it did not prepare for unexpected cost increases.

weakness of + [proposal/plan]

The bank's security system had a serious weakness that allowed strangers to access private customer accounts.

Common collocations
  • major weakness
  • serious weakness
  • biggest weakness
  • weakness in the plan
  • design weakness
  • identify a weakness
Synonyms
  • flaw

    similar but more about imperfection in design or appearance; sounds less serious

  • shortcoming

    suggests failing to meet a standard or expectation

  • defect

    more technical; an imperfection in a manufactured product or system

Antonyms
  • strength

    an area where someone or something performs well

  • advantage

    a feature that gives a better position

Grammar Patterns

weakness in [system/plan/character]

weakness of [person/thing]

Usage Note

Frequently used with 'in' to specify where the weakness exists ('weakness in the system') or 'of' to specify the owner ('weakness of the plan'). Can be used for people, systems, arguments, designs, or organizations.

Common Mistakes

The weakness of the phone is break easily.
A weakness of this phone is that it breaks easily.
use a that-clause or noun phrase after 'is', not a verb.

3. A strong liking for a particular thing or activity, often something that gives p

3.nounB1
Definition

A strong liking for a particular thing or activity, often something that gives pleasure but that you know is not good for you or is not wise to indulge.

Example

Karim has a weakness for dark chocolate and eats a whole bar every evening after dinner.

have a weakness for [indulgence]

Trang's only weakness is her love for old black-and-white films — she watches at least three a week.

Common collocations
  • have a weakness for
  • weakness for chocolate
  • weakness for sweets
  • only weakness
Synonyms
  • fondness

    milder and more neutral; does not imply the thing is bad for you

  • penchant

    more formal; a strong tendency to do or like something

  • soft spot

    informal; usually for a person or type of thing rather than an activity

Antonyms
  • aversion

    a strong dislike for something

  • distaste

    mild dislike, often for food or behaviour

Grammar Patterns

have a weakness for [something]

Usage Note

Always used in the pattern 'have a weakness for + noun/gerund'. The weakness is usually for something that the person themselves recognize as potentially bad or indulgent. Commonly used with food, drink, entertainment, or shopping.

Common Mistakes

I have weakness to chocolate.
I have a weakness for chocolate.
always use 'a' before 'weakness' in this sense, and 'for' not 'to'.

4. A situation in which a country's money has a low value compared to the money of

4.nounB2
Definition

A situation in which a country's money has a low value compared to the money of other nations, making imported goods more expensive and foreign travel costlier.

Example

The weakness of the yen made it much more expensive for Japanese students to study abroad in the United States.

weakness of [currency] — economic impact

Amelia studied how the weakness of the peso affected local farmers who needed to purchase imported seeds and tools.

Common collocations
  • currency weakness
  • weakness of the dollar
  • persistent weakness
  • prolonged weakness
  • exchange rate weakness
Synonyms
  • depreciation

    more precise; describes a measured fall in value, often over time

  • devaluation

    refers specifically to a government's deliberate reduction of currency value

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

weakness of [currency]

[currency] weakness

Usage Note

Primarily used in economics and financial reporting. Often appears in the compound noun form 'currency weakness'. Can be modified by 'prolonged', 'persistent', or 'severe'.

Common Mistakes

The weakness of dollar is good for export.
The weakness of the dollar is good for exporters.
always include 'the' before a specific currency name.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Weakness, flaw, shortcoming, and defect all describe something wrong or insufficient, but they differ in scope and formality. Weakness is the broadest term — it can apply to character ('a weakness for gossip'), systems ('a weakness in security'), or designs ('a structural weakness'), and implies a lack of strength or effectiveness. Flaw suggests an imperfection that spoils something that is otherwise good, often in a physical object or design ('a flaw in the diamond'). Shortcoming focuses on failing to meet a desired standard, and is most common for personal abilities or efforts ('despite his shortcomings as a speaker'). Defect is more technical and serious, pointing to a measurable fault that prevents proper function ('a defect in the software code'). For everyday conversation about people's character or plans, weakness and shortcoming are most natural; for manufactured or engineered things, flaw and defect are preferred.

weakness ↗flaw ↗shortcoming ↗defect ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • muscle weakness
  • currency weakness
  • design weakness
  • structural weakness

Adverbs

  • physically weak
  • persistently weak
  • chronically weak

Phrases

  • weakness in the system
  • weakness of the plan
  • have a weakness for

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Weakness comes from Old English 'wācnes', meaning the state of being weak. The root 'wāc' meant pliant, soft, or feeble, and is related to Old Norse 'veikr' (weak) and German 'weich' (soft). The suffix '-ness' turns the adjective into a noun meaning 'the state or quality of being'. By the 14th century, the word was used for both physical frailty and moral failing. The sense of 'a strong liking for something you cannot resist' appeared in the 18th century.