What does weakest mean?
Weakest is the superlative form of weak, an adjective meaning less strong, powerful, or effective than something else in a comparison. It may describe a person’s physical or mental capacity, the performance of a team, the structural vulnerability of a material, or the least persuasive part of an argument. Because it explicitly establishes the lowest rank, weakest often carries an evaluative tone: calling a person “the weakest” may sound harsh, while “the weakest link” focuses attention on a system’s vulnerable point rather than on its members. The word is common in both formal and informal British and American English and is formed with the regular superlative ending -est. It is especially useful when identifying the least resistant or least well-supported element in a group or process, since it makes both the comparison and the result explicit.
adjectiveHaving the least strength, power, support, effectiveness, or resistance in a comparison. It can also refer to the point or element most likely to fail.
- Having less strength, power, effectiveness, or persuasive force than others in a comparison.
- Denoting the component, point, or stage most vulnerable to failure or least able to withstand pressure.
"By a narrow margin, the younger crew proved the weakest in the regatta."
"By a narrow margin, the younger crew proved the weakest in the regatta."
"The final argument was the weakest because it relied on an assumption that had never been established."
A single weak point can outweigh many strong ones: in a chain, the weakest link limits the whole.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does weakest come from?
Weakest is the standard superlative of weak, formed by adding the suffix -est. Weak descends from Old English wēac, meaning “weak,” and is cognate with Dutch zwak and German schwach, all belonging to a Germanic family of words expressing lack of strength. The productive English superlative ending -est was inherited from Old English and became especially widespread in Middle English, so weakest developed within the ordinary inflectional system rather than as an independent root.
How weakest is actually used
Weakest is standard in formal and informal British and American English. When describing a person, it can sound evaluative or dismissive, especially in competitive contexts, although the degree of harshness depends on how it is used.