clumsiness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal. More formal than 'awkwardness' in many contexts.
Quick answer
What does “clumsiness” mean?
A lack of physical coordination or grace.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A lack of physical coordination or grace; awkwardness in movement.
A lack of skill, tact, or subtlety in handling situations, objects, or social interactions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The adjective 'clumsy' and its nominalization are used identically. Slightly higher frequency in British English in some corpora.
Connotations
Universal connotation of physical awkwardness and potential social ineptitude.
Frequency
Comparable frequency. Appears in both everyday and written discourse equally.
Grammar
How to Use “clumsiness” in a Sentence
clumsiness of (the hands)clumsiness in (handling)clumsiness with (tools)due to clumsinessVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clumsiness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Clumsy is not a verb. To behave clumsily/clumsy (adj).
American English
- Clumsy is not a verb. To act clumsy/clumsily.
adverb
British English
- He reached out clumsily and knocked over the lamp.
- The legislation was clumsily drafted.
American English
- She stumbled clumsily on the stairs.
- The plan was executed clumsily.
adjective
British English
- His clumsy handling of the antique vase caused great concern.
- She gave a rather clumsy apology.
American English
- That was a clumsy move during the negotiation.
- He's clumsy with tools.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Criticism of procedural inefficiency or poor handling of a client situation: 'The project's failure was due to managerial clumsiness.'
Academic
Describing stylistic flaws in writing or methodological errors: 'The study was undermined by a certain clumsiness in its experimental design.'
Everyday
Describing dropping things, bumping into objects, or social faux pas: 'I apologise for my clumsiness with the wine glass.'
Technical
In robotics/AI, describing lack of fine motor control or inefficient algorithms for movement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clumsiness”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “clumsiness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clumsiness”
- Using 'clumsiness' as a countable noun (e.g., 'a clumsiness'). Incorrect: 'He has a clumsiness.' Correct: 'He has clumsiness.' or 'He is clumsy.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically yes, but it can be used endearingly for children or animals ('the baby's adorable clumsiness').
Clumsiness is primarily physical. Awkwardness can be physical, social, or situational. A person can feel awkward (embarrassed) without being clumsy.
Yes, in an extended sense. 'Clumsy prose' or 'a clumsy sentence' means it's awkwardly constructed, lacking elegance or flow.
No. The related adjective is 'clumsy' and the adverb is 'clumsily'. There is no direct verb; you use phrases like 'to act clumsily' or 'to handle clumsily'.
A lack of physical coordination or grace.
Clumsiness is usually neutral to formal. more formal than 'awkwardness' in many contexts. in register.
Clumsiness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklʌm.zi.nəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklʌm.zi.nəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All thumbs (idiom for clumsiness)”
- “Two left feet (idiom for clumsiness in dancing/walking)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine CLUMSY NESS (a clumsy Loch Ness monster) clumsily bumping its head on bridges and dropping things into the loch.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLUMSINESS IS LACK OF CONTROL / CLUMSINESS IS HEAVINESS (opposite of lightness/grace).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'clumsiness' in a formal report?