Fragile

Fragile is an adjective describing something that is easily broken, damaged, or destroyed. A related noun, fragility, denotes the quality or state of being fragile. The term derives from the Latin fragilis, meaning breakable, from frangere to break.

In everyday life, fragile objects include glassware, porcelain, and thin-walled containers. Fragility arises from material properties such as brittleness, low fracture toughness, or thin cross-sections. Environmental factors like heat, cold, moisture, or impact can reduce strength. Proper handling, cushioning, and sturdy packaging reduce the risk of breakage.

The concept also applies beyond physical objects. A person can be emotionally fragile, meaning easily upset or hurt. Systems and networks may be described as fragile when small disturbances cause disproportionate disruption. In engineering and risk assessment, fragility is studied to understand failure under stress, sometimes using fragility curves or fracture-mechanics models.

Antonyms include durable and robust; related terms include brittleness and resilience. The term is used across disciplines, and its precise meaning depends on context, from everyday handling to technical analysis.