Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The one weakness of something or someone that is otherwise invulnerable, an Achilles' heel.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From a fictional radioactive element, kryptonite, that has a detrimental effect on the otherwise invulnerable character Superman. Apparently formed as krypton +‎ -ite.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word kryptonite.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • Name of a gene in the plant Arabidopsis that supresses the superman gene.

    June 28, 2010