fragile

fragile, frail

1. Fragile is pronounced fraj-iyl in BrE and fraj-ǝl in AmE.

2. Fragile is normally used of things being easily broken, whereas frail is normally used of people being infirm or in poor physical condition:

• The lectern at the Guildhall is a classic example of one that looks beautiful but is too small and fragile to use —H. Thomas & L. Gill, 1989

• After Charlotte's death in 1943, the villagers all noticed how extraordinarily frail and sunken Shaw looked —National Trust Magazine, 1990.

There is an overlap in meaning created by the figurative use of both words in the sense ‘weak, easily overturned’:

• OPEC last week managed to preserve its fragile unity —Observer, 1985

• The drinking, drug-taking and the high-pitched battles soon toppled the frail structure of their romance —J. Rose, 1990

• The fragile peace that has held in the holy city since June was shattered by deadly fighting that began late on Wednesday —Guardian, 2004.

In general, fragile tends to be used more often than frail in this meaning, whereas frail alone has the meaning ‘morally weak, easily yielding to temptation’.