the act or an instance of failing a person or thing that is unsuccessful or disappointing nonperformance of something required or expected: failure to attend will be punished cessation of normal operation; breakdown: a power failure an insufficiency or shortage: a crop failure a decline or loss, as in health or strength the fact of not reaching the required standard in an examination, test, course, etc the act or process of becoming bankrupt or the state of being bankrupt
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
fail•ure /ˈfeɪlyɚ/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- a failing or proving unsuccessful;
lack of success:[uncountable]a life of failure. - a person or thing that proves unsuccessful:[countable]The meeting was a failure.
- nonperformance of something due, required, or expected: [countable]a failure to appear.[uncountable]failure to pay.
- a quantity or quality that is below normal;
an insufficiency:[countable]the failure of crops. - deterioration or decay, esp. of vigor or strength:[uncountable]kidney failure.
- a becoming insolvent or bankrupt:[countable]the failure of a bank.
fail•ure
(fāl′yər),USA pronunciation n.
- an act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful;
lack of success:His effort ended in failure. The campaign was a failure. - nonperformance of something due, required, or expected:a failure to do what one has promised; a failure to appear.
- a subnormal quantity or quality;
an insufficiency:the failure of crops. - deterioration or decay, esp. of vigor, strength, etc.:The failure of her health made retirement necessary.
- a condition of being bankrupt by reason of insolvency.
- a becoming insolvent or bankrupt:the failure of a bank.
- a person or thing that proves unsuccessful:He is a failure in his career. The cake is a failure.
- Anglo-French (noun, nominal use of infinitive), for Old French faillir
- 1635–45; fail + -ure; replacing failer a (de)fault
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