weakness
High-frequency / B1Neutral (used across formal, academic, business, and informal contexts)
Definition
Meaning
The state or condition of lacking strength, power, or resilience; a deficiency or failing.
1. A particular or special liking for something (a 'weakness for' something). 2. A fault or defect in character, a system, or an argument. 3. A point of vulnerability in a structure, plan, or defense.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a countable noun when referring to specific faults or vulnerabilities, and an uncountable noun when referring to the general state or quality of being weak. The extended meaning of 'a special liking' is idiomatic and common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. British English may show a slightly higher frequency in using 'weakness' for character flaws in more formal writing, while American English may use it more freely in business/strategy contexts (e.g., 'competitive weakness'). Both use the idiom 'a weakness for' identically.
Connotations
Identical across both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent and identically used in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a weakness for + NOUNstrengths and weaknesses of + NOUNweakness in + NOUN (e.g., 'a weakness in the argument')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Achilles heel”
- “a weakness for (something/someone)”
- “chink in one's armour”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to identify internal drawbacks. Also in phrases like 'market weakness' or 'competitive weakness'.
Academic
Used to discuss flaws in arguments, theories, or methodologies. Common in critical analysis.
Everyday
Commonly used for personal failings ('My weakness is chocolate') or physical lack of strength.
Technical
In engineering/medicine, refers to structural or physiological points of failure (e.g., 'material weakness', 'muscle weakness').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The continuous rain began to weaken the foundations of the old cottage.
- He never weakens in his resolve to finish the marathon.
American English
- The senator's position weakened after the scandal.
- Adding too much water will weaken the solution.
adverb
British English
- He smiled weakly from his hospital bed.
- The signal was weakly transmitted.
American English
- She protested weakly, knowing she was wrong.
- The light shone weakly through the fog.
adjective
British English
- She felt very weak after the flu.
- That's a rather weak excuse for being late.
American English
- The bridge had a weak structural support.
- We received a weak cell phone signal in the mountains.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My biggest weakness is that I talk too much.
- After being ill, I had weakness in my legs.
- Chocolate is my weakness.
- One weakness in his plan is the cost.
- The SWOT analysis helped us identify our main weaknesses.
- She has a weakness for romantic comedies.
- The report exposes a fundamental weakness in the current regulations.
- His inability to delegate is a serious managerial weakness.
- They exploited a tactical weakness in the opponent's defence.
- The argument's epistemological weakness undermines its entire premise.
- A moment of moral weakness led him to compromise his principles.
- The currency's weakness was precipitated by political instability.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'WEAK' is in the word. A 'weakness' is the state (-ness) of being WEAK.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEAKNESS IS A HOLE/GAP (in an argument, defence). WEAKNESS IS A BURDEN (something that weighs you down). WEAKNESS IS A CRACK (in a structure or character).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'немощь' (feebleness/decrepitude) which is stronger and more archaic. 'Weakness' is more neutral.
- The idiom 'a weakness for' cannot be translated literally. It means 'непреодолимая слабость/любовь к чему-либо'.
- The plural 'weaknesses' is common (e.g., 'list your weaknesses'). Avoid using it as an uncountable noun in this context.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I have a weakness of chocolate.' Correct: 'I have a weakness for chocolate.'
- Overusing the uncountable form when a specific, countable instance is meant.
- Confusing 'weakness' (noun) with 'weak' (adjective) syntactically.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'weakness' in its idiomatic sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily negative, as it denotes a lack or flaw. However, in the idiomatic phrase 'a weakness for', it can have a mildly positive or humorous connotation (e.g., 'a weakness for cake').
Yes, frequently. 'Weaknesses' refers to multiple specific faults or vulnerabilities (e.g., 'He listed his main weaknesses').
They are often synonyms. 'Shortcoming' often implies a failure to meet a standard or expectation, while 'weakness' is broader and can refer to physical, moral, or structural lack of strength.
Use the structure: 'have a weakness for' + noun/noun phrase. It means to have a special fondness or liking for something, often implying you find it hard to resist. E.g., 'She has a weakness for Italian leather handbags.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Personality Traits
B1 · 36 words · Describing character and personal qualities.
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