failure

[ feyl-yer ]

noun

1. an act or instance of failing fail or proving unsuccessful; lack of success:

   His effort ended in failure.

   The campaign was a failure.

2. nonperformance of something due, required, or expected:

   a failure to do what one has promised;

   a failure to appear.

3. a subnormal quantity or quality; an insufficiency:

   the failure of crops.

4. deterioration or decay, especially of vigor, strength, etc.:

   The failure of her health made retirement necessary.

5. a condition of being bankrupt by reason of insolvency.
6. a becoming insolvent or bankrupt:

   the failure of a bank.

7. a person or thing that proves unsuccessful:

   He is a failure in his career.

   The cake is a failure.

failure

/ ˈfeɪljə /

noun

1. the act or an instance of failing
2. a person or thing that is unsuccessful or disappointing

   the evening was a failure

3. nonperformance of something required or expected

   failure to attend will be punished

4. cessation of normal operation; breakdown

   a power failure

5. an insufficiency or shortage

   a crop failure

6. a decline or loss, as in health or strength
7. the fact of not reaching the required standard in an examination, test, course, etc
8. the act or process of becoming bankrupt or the state of being bankrupt

Other Words From

• non·failure noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of failure¹

First recorded in 1635–45; fail + -ure; replacing failer “a fault, default,” from Anglo-French (noun use of infinitive), for Old French faillir

Example Sentences

A single flight from Los Angeles to Paris triggered the failure on Monday 28 August, the CAA report confirmed.

From BBC

Tanton admired Taylor’s 1992 book about the failure of affirmative action to fix race relations.

From Salon

A secondary school has been forced to close due to an "external IT failure".

From BBC

Coltart feels it is not just the Church that is to blame, and suggests other institutions in the UK need to face up to their failure to warn people in Zimbabwe.

From BBC

Yes, failure will make itself known.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bankruptcy
• breakdown
• collapse
• decline
• defeat
• deficiency
• deterioration
• failing
• loss
• misstep