default

¹de·fault

noun \di-ˈfȯlt, dē-; ˈdē-ˌfȯlt\

Definition of DEFAULT

1

: failure to do something required by duty or law : neglect

2

archaic : fault

3

: a failure to pay financial debts

4

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

Examples of DEFAULT

1. The defendant has made no appearance in the case and is in default.
2. You can enter your own settings or use the defaults.
3. Which font is the default in that computer program?

Origin of DEFAULT

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

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DEFAULT

Synonyms

failure, delinquency, dereliction, misprision, neglect, negligence, nonfeasance, oversight

Related Words

carelessness, heedlessness, inadvertence, inadvertency, laxity

Near Antonyms

compliance, discharge, fulfillment (or fulfilment)

Rhymes with DEFAULT

asphalt, assault, basalt, Chennault, cobalt, cross vault, desalt, exalt, fan vault, foot fault, gestalt, no-fault, pole vault, rock salt, Schwarzwald, stringhalt

²default

verb

Definition of DEFAULT

intransitive verb

1

: to fail to fulfill a contract, agreement, or duty: as

a : to fail to meet a financial obligation <default on a loan>

b : to fail to appear in court

c : to fail to compete in or to finish an appointed contest; also : to forfeit a contest by such failure

2

: to make a default selection <the program defaults to a standard font>

transitive verb

1

: to fail to perform, pay, or make good

2

a : forfeit

b : to exclude (a player or a team) from a contest by default

— de·fault·er noun

Examples of DEFAULT

1. If the borrower defaults, the bank can take the house.
2. The program defaults to a standard font.

First Known Use of DEFAULT

15th century