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flimsiness

 - 3 dictionary results

flim⋅sy

  [flim-zee] adjective, -si⋅er, -si⋅est, noun, plural -sies.
Use flimsiness in a Sentence
–adjective
1. without material strength or solidity: a flimsy fabric; a flimsy structure.
2. weak; inadequate; not effective or convincing: a flimsy excuse.
–noun
3. a thin kind of paper, esp. for use in making several copies at a time of an article, telegraphic dispatch, or the like, as in newspaper work.
4. a copy of a report or dispatch on such paper.
Origin:
1695–1705; flim- (perh. metathetic var. of film ) + -sy

Related forms:
flim⋅si⋅ly, adverb
flim⋅si⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. shoddy, weak, unstable, unsteady. 2. unconvincing, lame, vague.

Antonyms:
1. sturdy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To flimsiness
flim·sy   (flĭm'zē)   
adj.   flim·si·er, flim·si·est

  1. Light, thin, and insubstantial: a flimsy fabric.

  2. Lacking solidity or strength: a flimsy table.

  3. Lacking plausibility; unconvincing: a flimsy excuse.

n.   pl. flim·sies

  1. Thin paper usually used to make multiple copies.

  2. Something written on this thin paper.


[Origin unknown.]
flim'si·ly adv., flim'si·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

flimsy 
1702, perhaps a metathesis of film "gauzy covering."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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