foible

noun

foi·​ble ˈfȯi-bəl 

1

: the part of a sword or foil blade between the middle and point

2

: a minor flaw or shortcoming in character or behavior : weakness

admired their teacher despite his foibles

… talent is always balanced by foible.

—Janna Malamud Smith

Did you know?

Many word lovers agree that the pen is mightier than the sword. But be they honed in wit or form, even the sharpest tools in the shed have their flaws. That’s where foible comes in handy. Borrowed from French in the 1600s, the word originally referred to the weakest part of a fencing sword, that part being the portion between the middle and the pointed tip. The English foible soon came to be applied not only to weaknesses in blades but also to minor failings in character. The French source of foible is also at a remove from the fencing arena; the French foible means "weak," and it comes from the same Old French term, feble, that gave us feeble.

Synonyms

• demerit
• dereliction
• failing
• fault
• frailty
• shortcoming
• sin
• vice
• want
• weakness

Choose the Right Synonym for foible

fault, failing, frailty, foible, vice mean an imperfection or weakness of character.

fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.

a writer of many virtues and few faults

failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.

being late is a failing of mine

frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.

human frailties

foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.

an eccentric's charming foibles

vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.

compulsive gambling was his vice

Examples of foible in a Sentence

could tolerate my uncle's foibles because we loved him dearly

Recent Examples on the Web

Wilson and Marc Maron, who plays Pryce’s grumpy, long-suffering best bud (who is dealing with grief of his own), keep up the steady banter of two guys who know each other’s foibles and try to resist the urge to poke them. —Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025

O’Brien still has fun with societal foibles, just in a less direct fashion than some of his contemporaries. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2025

Elric Kane’s assured film seamlessly blends elements of science fiction and psychological thriller to thoughtfully examine the human fear of death, using the foibles of modern dating, strangely, to underscore its points. —Erik Piepenburg, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

For Carti fans, appreciating his unusual gifts comes with an awareness of his foibles, of the erratic release schedules and legal woes that undermine his work. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

obsolete French (now faible), from obsolete foible weak, from Old French feble feeble

First Known Use

circa 1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

foible

noun

foi·​ble ˈfȯi-bəl 

: a minor fault in personal character or behavior : weakness