What does infirmness mean?
Infirmness is a formal noun meaning the state of being weak, unwell, or unable to act with full physical strength. It may describe a person whose health has deteriorated, especially because of age, illness, or disability, as in references to chronic infirmness. Figuratively, it can refer to weakness of will, judgment, purpose, or resolve, particularly when a person or institution is portrayed as uncertain or unstable. The word tends to sound somewhat old-fashioned and is less common in everyday contemporary English than weakness, frailty, or infirmity. It is nevertheless useful because it conveys not merely reduced strength but a broader condition of impaired soundness, whether bodily or moral. In legal and historical writing, infirmness can describe a persistent limitation affecting someone’s ability to manage their affairs or make reliable decisions.
The state of being physically weak or in poor health.
"The doctor attributed her increasing infirmness to age and a long illness."
Usually formal or literary; chronic infirmness is a common expression.
Weakness or instability of will, purpose, judgment, or resolve.
"The delays exposed the infirmness of the committee’s resolve."
Figurative and often used in formal or political contexts.
The plural is possible but rare.
"The novel depicts the different infirmnesses affecting the old house."
Infirmness can describe both a body weakened by illness and a mind shaken by doubt: sometimes the condition is physical, and sometimes it is simply the wavering of purpose.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does infirmness come from?
Infirmness comes from the adjective infirm, which was borrowed from Latin infirmus, meaning “not strong” or “weak.” The Latin word combines the negative prefix in- with firmus, “strong” or “firm.” English inherited related forms including infirmity and infirmary, while other languages developed cognates based on the same Latin root, such as French infirme and Italian infermo.
Related word forms
How infirmness is actually used
The noun is relatively uncommon and sounds formal or old-fashioned in contemporary English. It is more often encountered in literary, legal, or historical contexts than in everyday speech.
Easily confused with infirmness
Infirmness is the condition or state of being infirm, whereas infirmity more often denotes a particular physical weakness or ailment.