fallible

[ fal-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. (of persons) liable to err, especially in being deceived or mistaken.
2. liable to be erroneous or false; not accurate:

   fallible information.

fallible

/ ˈfælɪbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being mistaken; erring
2. liable to mislead

Derived Forms

• ˌfalliˈbility, noun
• ˈfallibly, adverb

Other Words From

• fal·li·bil·i·ty [fal-, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], fal·li·ble·ness noun
• fal·li·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fallible¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin fallibilis, equivalent to Latin fall(ī) (passive of fallere “to deceive”) + -ibilis -ible

Word History and Origins

Origin of fallible¹

C15: from Medieval Latin fallibilis , from Latin fallere to deceive

Example Sentences

The defense was suddenly more fallible than usual.

From Los Angeles Times

They were flesh-and-blood human beings, fallible like all of us, and nowhere were these imperfections more apparent than in their obeisance to neoliberalism — that is, free-market capitalism.

From Salon

Oliver and the other doctors are fallible, be it freezing up during a spinal tap or completely overstepping into their patients’ personal lives to facilitate a father-daughter reunion.

From Los Angeles Times

“All people are fallible, even a great president like Roosevelt. He got stampeded by the hysteria of the time, the racism of the time. And he signed Executive Order 9066,” Takei said.

From Seattle Times

"It's almost certainly reflecting an unconscious judgement that human investors are fallible, while machines are objective, logical and measured decision makers," he says.

From BBC

Related Words

• faulty
• frail
• imperfect
• untrustworthy