flaw

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈflȯ 

1

a

: a defect in physical structure or form

a diamond with a flaw

b

: an imperfection or weakness and especially one that detracts from the whole or hinders effectiveness

vanity was the flaw in his character

a flaw in the book's plot

2

obsolete : fragment

flaw

2 of 3

verb

flawed; flawing; flaws

transitive verb

: to make flaws in : mar

intransitive verb

: to become defective

flaw

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a sudden brief burst of wind

the wind changed with flaws from westward

—Archibald MacLeish

also : a spell of stormy weather

2

obsolete : an outburst especially of passion

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• blemish
• blight
• blotch
• defect
• deformity
• disfigurement
• excrescence
• excrescency
• fault
• imperfection
• mar
• mark
• pockmark
• scar

Verb

• blemish
• bloody
• break
• compromise
• crab
• cripple
• cross (up)
• damage
• deface
• disfigure
• endamage
• harm
• hurt
• impair
• injure
• mar
• spoil
• vitiate

Examples of flaw in a Sentence

Verb

that crack has flawed the vase to the extent that its value in the antiques market is greatly reduced

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That system may be flawed, but at least enrollment in a public school doesn’t require a waiting list or depend on the largesse of a billionaire or an employer. —Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024

And, if justice is already flawed in theory, its practices and the entire criminal system contribute even less towards a restorative process in society. —Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Jan. 2024

Some election experts say its methodology is flawed. —The Arizona Republic, 25 Feb. 2024

In late January, a Delaware judge voided his $55.8 billion Tesla compensation package — the largest in US corporate history — after an investor claimed it was flawed by conflicts of interests and misleading disclosures by the electric car company. —Madlin Mekelburg, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2024

The institute denied that the studies were flawed, as did the lead author, James Studnicki, who is vice president and director of data analytics at the institute. —Pam Belluck, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2024

Heritage conservation in Egypt has become a source of debate following several controversial projects that had resulted in razing historic areas and flawed renovation of hundreds-year-old mosques. —Ayat Al-Tawy, ABC News, 2 Feb. 2024

Even body mass index—the tool that providers use to diagnose obesity—may be flawed. —Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 19 Jan. 2024

There appear to be superficial similarities, but our understanding of that chaotic year may be flawed. All Our Opinion in Your Inbox NR Daily is delivered right to you every afternoon. —Wilson Shirley, National Review, 7 Jan. 2024

Noun

The actor later hired a private investigator and alleges that Brunson attempted to have his bail revoked and that the district attorney's office prevented Gatt and the investigator from presenting their findings on the investigation's flaws in court. —Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024

Carbon offsets are under intense scrutiny, with recent reports from Amazon to Australia exposing some flaws, which may lead to doubts about their effectiveness and, therefore, distrust. —Simi Thambi​, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

The bizarre casting and bad CGI don’t help, but the film’s biggest flaw is that director Roland Emmerich fails to understand what people do like about Godzilla, turning the concept into just another disaster movie with none of the monster mayhem fans love. —Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024

Most striking is how Carmichael uses the show to pry apart his own flaws, including his pathological inability to remain monogamous with his new boyfriend. —Adam B. Vary, Variety, 28 Mar. 2024

But Take Note One flaw is that the mattress has a plastic smell that sticks around for a few hours once the mattress is removed from its packaging. —Ambrosia V. Brody, Parents, 28 Mar. 2024

This includes finding flaws in third-party components and libraries, which can be used across multiple software products. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 27 Mar. 2024

Apple Chip Flaw Exposes Secret Encryption Keys Apple’s M-series of chips contain a flaw that could allow an attacker to trick the processor into revealing secret end-to-end encryption keys on Macs, according to new research. —Andrew Couts, WIRED, 23 Mar. 2024

The Shaws' story is a complicated one that reveals flaws in the system set up to protect some of society's most vulnerable individuals. —Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English, flake, from Old Norse flaga stone slab, moldar flaga thin layer of turf; akin to Old English flōh flat stone

Noun (2)

of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian flaga gust, squall

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1610, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing flaw

• tragic flaw

Kids Definition

flaw

1 of 2 noun

ˈflȯ 

: a small often hidden defect

flawless

-ləs

adjective

flawlessly adverb

flawlessness noun

flaw

2 of 2 verb

: to make or become defective