foible

Foible is a noun that denotes a minor weakness or eccentricity in a person’s character. It is typically not a grave moral failing, but rather a small, redeemable flaw or quirk that might be obvious to others yet is easy to overlook or forgive. In common usage, people speak of personal foibles—such as a habit of interrupting or a fondness for late-night snacking—as light, human foibles rather than serious faults. The plural foibles is frequent in descriptive writing.

Etymology: the term comes from Middle French foible meaning weak, from Old French, ultimately referring to weakness. In English, the word has long carried the sense of a minor defect that is tolerable or easy to overlook.

In fencing, foible is a separate sense: the weaker portion of a blade near the tip, opposite to the forte. Historically these terms helped distinguish scoring areas and technique.

In literature and rhetoric, foibles are often used to add realism to characters, highlighting how small faults contribute to personality without defining the whole person. They can serve as gentle humor or as a vehicle for critique, depending on context. Overall, foible denotes a small imperfection rather than a major flaw, and its connotation is typically mild rather than condemnatory.