Flaw
noun/verb
Definition
1. A defect or imperfection in an object or material.
2. A mistake or weakness in an argument, plan, or idea.
3. A fault or weakness in someone’s character.
2. A mistake or weakness in an argument, plan, or idea.
3. A fault or weakness in someone’s character.
Context Alive
You’re at a market looking at a beautiful handmade vase when you notice a tiny crack running down one side. The seller admits there’s a small flaw in the pottery but offers you a big discount because of it. You think about it for a moment—it’s barely visible, and the price is too good to refuse. Sometimes imperfections aren’t deal-breakers. Sometimes they just make things more affordable.
Meanings
3 meanings
1
A Defect in an Object or Material (Noun) — VERY COMMON
Common
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This meaning is about physical imperfections in things. Imagine inspecting a diamond and seeing a tiny flaw inside—a small mark that affects its value even though most people would never notice it without a magnifying glass. This is a flaw in an object. You might return a shirt because of a flaw in the stitching, or a car manufacturer could recall vehicles because of a dangerous flaw in the brakes. Or picture buying discounted furniture because of a small flaw in the wood. The word suggests something that spoils perfection.
Vivid ExampleThe antique mirror was stunning, but Sarah noticed a small flaw in the glass near the corner—a tiny bubble from when it was made over a hundred years ago. She bought it anyway, deciding the imperfection added to its charm and history.
2
A Mistake or Weakness in an Argument or Plan (Noun) — VERY COMMON
Common
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This meaning is about problems in thinking, plans, or systems. Imagine presenting your business idea to investors when one of them points out a major flaw in your financial projections—you forgot to include shipping costs, which changes everything. This is a flaw in reasoning. You might spot a flaw in someone’s argument during a debate, or a lawyer could find a fatal flaw in the evidence against their client. Or picture software engineers fixing a security flaw that hackers could exploit. The word suggests a weakness that damages the whole.
Vivid ExampleThe escape plan seemed perfect until someone spotted the obvious flaw—the getaway car was parked on the other side of a river with no bridge nearby. They had to go back to the drawing board and start again from scratch.
3
A Fault in Someone's Character (Noun) — COMMON
Common
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This meaning is about negative traits in a person’s personality. Imagine a brilliant boss who everyone respects, but his biggest flaw is his terrible temper—when things go wrong, he shouts at everyone and makes people feel awful. This is a character flaw. You might admit that impatience is your biggest flaw, or someone could say that jealousy is the flaw that ruins all their relationships. Or picture a hero in a film whose pride becomes the flaw that leads to his downfall. The word suggests a weakness in who someone is.
Vivid ExampleEveryone loved David—he was funny, kind, and incredibly talented. But his biggest flaw was his inability to say no to anyone, which meant he constantly overcommitted himself and ended up letting people down when he couldn’t deliver on his promises.
Examples from the Street
“The plan has one major flaw — we don’t have enough money.”
The scheme has one big problem — we lack sufficient funds
“Nobody’s perfect — we all have flaws.”
No one is without faults — we all have imperfections
“I love him despite his flaws.”
I love him even with his imperfections/faults
Common Patterns
a flaw in [something] → a defect or problem in a plan, system, argument
a major/serious/fundamental flaw → a significant problem
a minor/small flaw → a slight imperfection
find/spot/identify a flaw → discover a problem
fix/correct a flaw → repair a defect
expose/reveal a flaw → uncover a weakness
have flaws → have imperfections or weaknesses
character/personality flaw → a weakness in someone’s nature
fatal flaw → a critical weakness that leads to failure or downfall
despite someone’s flaws → even with their imperfections
accept someone’s flaws → embrace their imperfections
a flaw in the material/diamond/glass → an imperfection in a substance
without flaw / flawless → perfect, with no defects
Collocations
4 collocationsfatal flaw
a weakness that leads to total failure
design flaw
a mistake in how something was planned
character flaw
a negative trait in someone's personality
minor flaw
a small imperfection
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
There’s a major flaw in your argument — you’re assuming everyone has internet access
There’s a significant problem with your reasoning — you’re presuming everybody can get online.
2
The lawyer spotted a flaw in the contract that could save us millions
The legal professional noticed a problem in the agreement that could rescue us a fortune.
3
The experiment exposed a fundamental flaw in the original theory
The test revealed a basic problem with the initial hypothesis.
4
We need to fix this flaw before we launch the product
We have to correct this defect before we release what we’re selling.
5
Everyone has flaws — that’s what makes us human
Everybody has imperfections — that’s part of being a person.
6
His fatal flaw was his inability to trust anyone
His critical weakness was his inability to have confidence in other people.
7
I love her despite her flaws — nobody’s perfect
I care for her even with her imperfections — no one is without faults.
8
Jealousy is probably my biggest character flaw
Envy is probably my greatest personality weakness.
9
True friendship means accepting someone’s flaws, not trying to change them
Genuine companionship means embracing a person’s imperfections, not attempting to alter them.
10
The diamond had a tiny flaw that was invisible to the naked eye
The gemstone had a small imperfection that couldn’t be seen without magnification.
Learner Examples
★
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes — having flaws is part of learning a language
Don’t worry about getting things wrong — being imperfect is part of acquiring a new tongue.
★
A good teacher spots the flaws in a student’s pronunciation and helps them improve
An effective instructor notices the problems in a learner’s way of speaking and assists them in getting better.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
2 items Idioms & Expressionsfatal flaw — critical weakness causing failure
His inability to listen was a fatal flaw in his leadership.
a flaw in the system — defect in how things work
There's clearly a flaw in the system if nobody noticed.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsdefect
a fault in quality
weakness
a vulnerable point
imperfection
something that's not perfect
shortcoming
a failing or limitation
Antonymsstrength
a strong quality
perfection
having no faults