fallible

Group 19Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(adjective)
Capable of making mistakes or being erroneous
GRE

Example in Context

The court's ruling acknowledged that eyewitness testimony, though compelling, is inherently fallible and should be corroborated.

Synonyms

imperfectflawederror-prone

Etymology

From the idea of being able to be deceived or mistaken, thus capable of errors.

  • fallere (Latin) — to deceive

Memory Aid

Sounds like “fail able

If you’re FAIL-ABLE, you're just one slip away from a hilarious mistake!

Visual Association

🤦A person tripping over their own shoelaces while trying to show off, highlighting their fallibility.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “fallible” mean on the GRE?

fallible (adjective) means “Capable of making mistakes or being erroneous”. The court's ruling acknowledged that eyewitness testimony, though compelling, is inherently fallible and should be corroborated.

How to remember “fallible” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “fallible” sounds like “fail able”. If you’re FAIL-ABLE, you're just one slip away from a hilarious mistake!

What are synonyms for “fallible”?

Common synonyms: imperfect, flawed, error-prone.