noun
flaw
flaw
noun
1
A defect or imperfection, often one that is hidden or not obvious at first.
"The diamond had a small flaw visible only under magnification."
"His plan had one fatal flaw: it needed everyone to agree."
How to Use Flaw
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA weakness or defect in something, whether physical, like a crack, or abstract, like a plan or argument.
Common pairings
fatal flaw
design flaw
character flaw
Word Forms
flawed past tense, flaws plural, flaws plural, flaws singular
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The diamond had a small _____ visible only under magnification.
Etymology
From Middle English flawe, probably from Old Norse flaga ("a flake" or "slab of stone").