Fallible
/ˈfæl.ə.bəl/noun
Capable of making mistakes or being wrong.
Did you know?The word entered English through Latin, where it was tied to the idea of something that can slip, fail, or go wrong—proof that even our vocabulary carries a quiet philosophy of imperfection.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰel-
“to slip, fall, or fail”
Latin
Latin
fallere
“to trip up, deceive, or disappoint”
Late Latin
Latin
fallibilis
“liable to err or deceive”
Middle English
English
fallible
“capable of failing or being mistaken”
Modern English
English
fallible
“capable of making mistakes or being wrong”