tragic flaw: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal/Literary/Academic
Quick answer
What does “tragic flaw” mean?
A character flaw or error in judgment in a tragic hero that leads directly to their downfall.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A character flaw or error in judgment in a tragic hero that leads directly to their downfall.
Any inherent personality defect, weakness, or failing in a person that causes significant negative consequences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in lexical use. The concept is more commonly discussed in UK secondary education (e.g., A-Level English Literature) than in standard US high school curricula.
Connotations
Strongly associated with classical tragedy and literary analysis in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse; used almost exclusively in literary, dramatic, or psychological analysis.
Grammar
How to Use “tragic flaw” in a Sentence
[character]'s tragic flaw is [noun phrase (e.g., excessive pride)]The tragic flaw of [character]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tragic flaw” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - The term is a noun phrase and not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A - The term is a noun phrase and not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - No adverbial form derived from the noun phrase.
American English
- N/A - No adverbial form derived from the noun phrase.
adjective
British English
- N/A - 'Tragic-flaw' is not used as a standalone adjective. You might say 'a flaw of tragic proportions'.
- The play's analysis focused on the flaw-driven narrative.
American English
- N/A - 'Tragic-flaw' is not used as a standalone adjective. You might say 'a tragically flawed character'.
- His tragic-flaw mentality doomed the project.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically used in leadership analysis: 'His inability to delegate proved to be his tragic flaw, leading to the startup's collapse.'
Academic
Standard term in literary criticism and classical studies: 'The essay examines Hamlet's tragic flaw as a paralysis of action.'
Everyday
Rarely used in casual conversation; if used, it's often hyperbole: 'My tragic flaw is that I can never resist dessert.'
Technical
Precise term in Aristotelian dramaturgy and narrative theory.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tragic flaw”
- Using it to describe a minor quirk or likeable imperfection.
- Misspelling as 'tragic floor'.
- Using it outside the context of a significant downfall.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. While often moral, it can also be an error in judgment, ignorance of key facts, or an inherent limitation, as per the original Greek 'hamartia'.
Yes, but it's usually metaphorical or hyperbolic. In psychology or business, it describes a deep-seated personal failing with severe negative consequences.
In modern usage, they are virtually synonymous. 'Tragic flaw' is more specifically tied to literary tragedy, while 'fatal flaw' can be used more broadly.
While analysis often focuses on a single, dominant flaw, characters can have multiple interconnected failings that contribute to their downfall.
A character flaw or error in judgment in a tragic hero that leads directly to their downfall.
Tragic flaw is usually formal/literary/academic in register.
Tragic flaw: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtrædʒ.ɪk ˈflɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtrædʒ.ɪk ˈflɑː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The seeds of one's own destruction”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
TRAGIC FLAW = The Fatal Little Attribute Which causes a hero's Fall.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CRACK IN THE FOUNDATION (of a character) that causes the entire structure to collapse.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of a 'tragic flaw' in the literary sense?