infirmity
/ɪnˈfɜːrmɪti/
physical or mental weakness
His infirmity made it difficult for him to climb the stairs.
His physical weakness made it hard for him to climb the stairs.
formal
a physical or mental weakness or disability
Age often brings infirmity, requiring more medical care.
As people get older, they often develop physical weaknesses that need medical attention.
Often used in formal or medical contexts to describe chronic conditions.
Collocations
suffer from infirmityto experience physical or mental weaknessdue to infirmitybecause of physical or mental weakness
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Formal Context
Use 'infirmity' in formal or medical writing to describe chronic conditions.
Word Origin
From Old French 'enfermeté' (weakness), from Latin 'infirmitas' (weakness), from 'infirmus' (weak).
Usage Notes
Often used in formal or medical contexts to describe chronic conditions or disabilities. Avoid using it to describe temporary illnesses.
Word Breakdown
in-
not
prefixfirm
strong
root-ity
state of being
suffixEnglish Dictionary