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

Noun (1)

noted the flaw in the diamond before I bought it

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

Groups representing social media companies and technology sector advocates called the bill flawed and said placing limits on social media for children can cause other problems. —James Watson, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2025

Public reports of rats are very useful but can be flawed, said field ecologist Parsons. —Laura Paddison, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025

Noun

At the end of an otherwise celebratory offseason, the Dodgers had to take a critical look at one of their biggest organizational flaws this winter. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2025

But there’s a truism embedded in its hyperbole: Most people on good terms with their mother would describe her as the world’s greatest, regardless of any flaws and errors along the way. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025

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