fragility

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The state of being easily broken, damaged, or harmed.

   Grammar: Uncountable; no plural form in this sense.

   Patterns

   • the fragility of something
   • fragility in something

   The fragility of the old manuscript made it difficult to handle.

   Engineers tested the fragility of the glass under high pressure.

   The vase's fragility means it must be packed with great care.

2. 2noununcountable

   The quality of being easily harmed, weakened, or destroyed, especially in a system or situation.

   Grammar: Uncountable; often used with 'of' to specify what is fragile.

   Patterns

   • economic fragility
   • political fragility
   • the fragility of the situation

   The economic fragility of the region became clear after the crisis.

   The peace agreement's fragility worried diplomats.

   Social fragility can lead to unrest if not addressed.

3. 3noununcountablemedical

   A tendency to become ill or weak easily, especially in a medical context.

   Grammar: Uncountable; used in medical and technical writing.

   Patterns

   • fragility of the bones
   • physical fragility

   The patient's fragility required gentle handling.

   Bone fragility increases with age.

   She showed signs of physical fragility after the long illness.

Common combinations

the fragility of

The fragility of the ecosystem is a major concern.

economic fragility

Economic fragility can lead to political instability.

fragility of life

The fragility of life is a common theme in poetry.

bone fragility

Bone fragility is common in older adults.

Synonyms and how they differ

brittleness

Brittleness suggests something snaps easily, while fragility can also refer to systems or health.

weakness

Weakness is broader and can mean lack of strength, not just being easily broken.

delicacy

Delicacy often implies fine texture or need for careful handling, not necessarily breakability.

Opposites

Word family

fragile adjective

Easily broken or damaged.

fragilely adverb

In a fragile manner (rare).

Commonly confused: fragility or fragility vs. frailty?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fragility”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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