Today, the "fragile state" is a common term, and the more it is used and referred to a wider range of phenomena, the more its meaning is depleted and its explanatory power decreases. Referring a word to a plurality of meanings and expanding its circle of examples, instead of a precise diagnostic tool, it is politically flexible and sometimes misused. It is observed that Western powers intervene under the pretext of threatening their security and the international community from countries with fragile governments. This article tries to answer the question, "What is a fragile state and what are its characteristics?" By examining the semantic network of the fragile state through the descriptive-analytical method, it will analyze the meaning of this concept from the point of view of supporters and opponents in order to assess the possibility of using it as a diagnostic tool. The aim of the research is to provide a clearer picture of a relatively new concept. It seems that despite the applicability and explanatory capability of the fragile state concept, fundamental criticisms towards this concept can be considered valid from an epistemological and methodological point of view. In using this concept, its ideological orientations should be stated.