fragilising

Fragilising is the process of making something more fragile or vulnerable; it is the verb form of fragilisation. The term is used in both technical and policy contexts to describe a shift toward increased fragility in objects, systems, or institutions.

Etymology and usage notes: fragilising derives from the adjective fragile, with the noun-form fragilisation and the English suffix -isation. In British English, fragilisation is common, while American English may use fragilization. The verb fragilising is typically used across disciplines to describe an ongoing or intentional change toward greater fragility.

Contexts and meanings: In materials science and engineering, fragilising refers to mechanisms that reduce a material’s ductility and resistance to fracture, leading to embrittlement. Examples include hydrogen embrittlement, irradiation, thermal aging, corrosion, and sustained high stress, all of which can cause a material to fail more readily under load. In social, political, and economic contexts, fragilising describes processes that erode resilience or capacity—such as weakened governance, economic instability, or environmental stress—that increase a system’s vulnerability to shocks like disasters, conflict, or market volatility.

Measurement and implications: Because fragility is highly context-dependent, fragilising is often discussed qualitatively and in relation to specific thresholds or timeframes. Discussions focus on identifying fragilising factors, assessing risk, and implementing strategies to counteract fragilisation, including resilience-building, diversification, and strengthening institutional capacity.

See also: fragility, resilience, embrittlement, brittleness.