adj · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ɪnˈfɜːm/
General-American:/ɪnˈfɜɹm/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)m
CMU ARPABET:IH0 N F ER1 M
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Weak or ill, not in good health.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He was infirm of body but still keen of mind, and though it looked like he couldn't walk across the room, he crushed me in debate.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Irresolute; weak of mind or will.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Frail; unstable; insecure.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To contradict, to provide proof that something is not.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The thought is that you see an episode of observation, experiment, or reasoning as confirming or infirming a hypothesis depending on whether the probability of it being correct increases or decreases during the episode.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
lacking firmness of will or character or purpose - Shakespeare
* The noun is from Middle English infirme, from Latin infirmus (“weak, feeble”). * The verb is from Latin īnfirmāre, from īnfirmus (“sick, weak, infirm”) + -ō.
Across languages
Translations
38 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
немощен
(nemošten)
— weak; feeble
Bulgarian:
безсилен
(bezsilen)
— weak; feeble
Catalan:
malaltís
— weak; feeble
Czech:
nemohoucí
— weak; feeble
Czech:
vetchý
— weak; feeble
Czech:
neduživý
— weak; feeble
Estonian:
nõder
— weak; feeble
French:
infirme
— weak; feeble
German:
schwach
— weak; feeble
German:
schwächlich
— weak; feeble
German:
kränklich
— weak; feeble
German:
gebrechlich
— weak; feeble
German:
siech
— weak; feeble
German:
kraftlos
— weak; feeble
Ancient Greek:
ἄρρωστος
(árrhōstos)
— weak; feeble
