Main Entry:

¹de·fault

Pronunciation:

\di-ˈfȯlt, dē-; ˈdē-ˌfȯlt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English defaute, defaulte, from Anglo-French, from defaillir to be lacking, fail, from de- + faillir to fail

Date:

13th century

1: failure to do something required by duty or law : neglect2archaic : fault3: a failure to pay financial debts4 a: failure to appear at the required time in a legal proceeding b: failure to compete in or to finish an appointed contest <lost the game by default>5 a: a selection made usually automatically or without active consideration due to lack of a viable alternative <remained the club's president by default> b: a selection automatically used by a computer program in the absence of a choice made by the user

— in default of

: in the absence of