weakest

Weakest is the superlative form of the adjective weak, used to indicate the least amount of strength, power, or resilience within a group or context. It can function as an adjective, as in the weakest participant, the weakest link, or as a noun phrase ("the weakest") when the group is understood from context. Like other English superlatives, it is formed by adding -est to the base form, sometimes with orthographic adjustment to preserve pronunciation.

Etymology: The word weak stems from Old English and has cognates in other Germanic languages; it is related to terms meaning lacking strength or vigor. The comparative forms weaker and weakest are commonly used in a wide range of registers from casual speech to formal writing.

Usage: Weakest describes a relative position in strength or capability. It appears in sports, performance reviews, and everyday descriptions, as in "the weakest member of the team" or "the weakest performance." In science, "weak" has specific technical senses, such as the weak nuclear force or a weak signal, but the superlative form rarely appears as a technical label; it is primarily used for comparison. The expression "the weakest link" is a well-known idiom implying vulnerability in a chain or system. Common phrases include "the weakest link" and "the weakest possible outcome."