Definition of "flimsy" in English

adjective

1. Likely to bend or break under pressure; easily damaged; frail, unsubstantial.

   • He expected the flimsy structure to collapse at any moment.

2. Of an argument, explanation, etc.: ill-founded, unconvincing, weak; also, unimportant; paltry, trivial.

   • a flimsy excuse
   • the flimsiest of theories

3. Of a person: lacking depth of character or understanding; frivolous, superficial.

4. Of a person, their physical makeup, or their health: delicate, frail.

noun

1. A thing which is ill-founded, unconvincing, or weak.

2. (also attributive, uncountable) Thin typing paper used together with carbon paper in a typewriter to make multiple copies of a document; (countable) a sheet of such paper.

3. (by extension) A document printed or typed on such paper.

4. (UK, military slang) A hexahedral metal container with a capacity of four imperial gallons (about 18 litres) used by the British Army during World War II to hold fuel.

verb

1. To make (something) likely to be easily damaged.

2. (dated or historical) To type or write (text) on a flimsy (“sheet of thin typing paper used together with carbon paper in a typewriter to make multiple copies of a document”) (noun noun, sense 2); to distribute such flimsies.

3. (figurative) To treat (someone or something) as paltry or unimportant; to demean, to underestimate.