fallible

adjective

fal·​li·​ble ˈfa-lə-bəl How to pronounce fallible (audio)
1
: liable to be erroneous
a fallible generalization
2
: capable of making a mistake
we're all fallible
fallibly adverb

Did you know?

Humanum est errare” is a Latin expression that translates as “To err is human.” Of course, cynics might say that it is also human to deceive. The history of the word fallible simultaneously recognizes both of these character flaws. In modern usage, fallible refers to one’s ability to make mistakes, but it descends from the Latin verb fallere, which means “to deceive.” Fallible has been used to describe the potential for error since at least the 15th century. Other descendants of fallere in English, all of which actually predate fallible, include fallacy (the earliest, now obsolete, meaning was “guile, trickery”), fault, false, and even fjail. Whoops, we mean fail.

Examples of fallible in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Even with the enviable long-term performance, the combination of fallible decision-making and occasionally being out of sync with the markets has caused Berkshire Hathway to underperform the S&P 500 more often than most would expect. Bill Stone, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 Maybe the most contentious issue ever to divide these two camps is whether or not to replace notoriously inaccurate human home plate umpires with less fallible machines. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 21 Feb. 2025 Liverpool are what league champions used to look like: excellent, but with their fragilities; fallible winners who would have nervy halves against teams such as Wolves from time to time. Nick Miller, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025 An angel doesn’t have a body, certainly not a fallible one full of viscera and waste and gore. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fallible

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin fallibilis, from Latin fallere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fallible was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Fallible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fallible. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

fallible

adjective
fal·​li·​ble ˈfal-ə-bəl How to pronounce fallible (audio)
: capable of making a mistake or being wrong
fallibility
ˌfal-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
noun
fallibly adverb

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