flaw

¹

[ flaw ]

noun

1. a feature that mars the perfection of something; defect; fault:

   beauty without flaw; the flaws in our plan.

   Synonyms: spot, blot, imperfection

2. a defect impairing legal soundness or validity.
3. a crack, break, breach, or rent.

   Synonyms: rift, fissure

verb (used with object)

1. to produce a flaw in.

verb (used without object)

1. to contract a flaw; become cracked or defective.

flaw

²

[ flaw ]

noun

1. Also called windflaw. a sudden, usually brief windstorm or gust of wind.
2. a short spell of rough weather.
3. Obsolete. a burst of feeling, fury, etc.

flaw

¹

/ flɔː /

noun

1. 1. a sudden short gust of wind; squall
   2. a spell of bad, esp windy, weather
2. obsolete.
   an outburst of strong feeling

flaw

²

/ flɔː /

noun

1. an imperfection, defect, or blemish
2. a crack, breach, or rift
3. law an invalidating fault or defect in a document or proceeding

verb

1. to make or become blemished, defective, or imperfect

Derived Forms

• ˈflawy, adjective
• ˈflawlessness, noun
• ˈflawlessly, adverb
• ˈflawless, adjective

Other Words From

• flawless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flaw¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English flage, flaw(e), perhaps from Old Norse flaga “sliver, flake”

Origin of flaw²

First recorded in 1475–85, flaw is from the Old Norse word flaga attack, squall

Word History and Origins

Origin of flaw¹

C16: of Scandinavian origin; related to Norwegian flaga squall, gust, Middle Dutch vlāghe

Origin of flaw²

C14: probably from Old Norse flaga stone slab; related to Swedish flaga chip, flake, flaw

Synonym Study

See defect.

Example Sentences

I guess it’s a character flaw on my part.

From Los Angeles Times

Her indomitable will to stay in the game was her noble strength — and perhaps also her personal flaw.

From Los Angeles Times

That may sound like a minor flaw, but the researchers observed that the errors could be incorporated in official records such as transcriptions of court testimony or prison phone calls — which could lead to official decisions based on “phrases or claims that a defendant never said.”

From Los Angeles Times

“You would put in a last name and a very long list of information would come out. A clear flaw,” he said.

From BBC

"I was the only person in the Ministry of Defence who discovered this flaw," he claimed, adding that he had only searched the names of seven officers.

From BBC

Related Words

• blemish
• bug
• defect
• failing
• fault
• foible
• glitch
• pitfall
• weakness