flawed

Flawed is an adjective meaning having a fault, defect, or weakness; not perfect. It derives from the noun flaw, which historically referred to a break or imperfection and has broadened to describe defects in objects, processes, or ideas.

In materials, a flaw indicates a structural imperfection that may affect strength, durability, or safety, such as a crack in ceramic or a weak seam in metal. In reasoning and rhetoric, a flawed argument contains errors in logic, evidence, or inference that undermine its conclusions. In data, software, and systems, flawed information or design denotes inadequacies that can lead to incorrect results or failures.

In art and literature, a flawed character or work acknowledges human imperfection and can contribute to realism or depth, though it may also limit reception depending on severity. The term is typically used descriptively rather than as a moral verdict; something can be flawed yet still valuable or functional, especially when flaws are acknowledged and mitigated.

Flaw is related to defect, blemish, and imperfection, while flawless acts as its opposite. In common usage, phrases such as "flawed but compelling" or "fatal flaw" express varying degrees of defect, from minor to decisive. Etymology traces the word flaw to Old English and other Germanic roots, with the modern sense expanding from physical breaks to broad references to faults of various kinds.