default

1 of 2

noun

de·​fault di-ˈfȯlt 

dē-;

ˈdē-ˌfȯlt

1

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

2

archaic : fault

3

economics : a failure to pay financial debts

was in default on her loan

mortgage defaults

4

a

law : failure to appear at the required time in a legal proceeding

The defendant is in default.

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

the default candidate

b

computers : a selection automatically used by a program in the absence of a choice made by the user

using the default settings

default

2 of 2

verb

defaulted; defaulting; defaults

intransitive verb

1

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

a

: to fail to meet a financial obligation

default on a loan

b

law : 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

computers : to make a selection automatically in the absence of a choice made by the user

The program defaults to a standard font.

transitive verb

1

: to fail to perform, pay, or make good

default a loan

2

a

: forfeit

defaulted the game

b

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

was defaulted from the tournament

defaulter noun

Phrases

in default of

: in the absence of

Synonyms

Noun

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

Examples of default in a Sentence

Noun

The defendant has made no appearance in the case and is in default.

You can enter your own settings or use the defaults.

Which font is the default in that computer program?

Verb

If the borrower defaults, the bank can take the house.

The program defaults to a standard font.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Chinese financial institutions are believed to have rescheduled payments for about $2 billion in those debts since 2020, helping Laos to avoid an outright default and relieving some pressure on the economy. —Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 5 Apr. 2024

Once considered the gold standard for its simplicity and safety, baby cereal is no longer the default first food recommendation for all babies. —Jennifer D'angelo Friedman, Parents, 1 Apr. 2024

Water consumption in general is better at the default level (gone are the days of having to refill the water tanks every other wash). —Anthony Karcz, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

For example, autoplay is turned off as a default in YouTube Kids. —Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 29 Mar. 2024

The jackpot has now reset to its default $20 million. —Phil Helsel, NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024

Recently the Moreno dental office and other tenants were named as parties to a foreclosure lawsuit being pursued by a lender to KDG claiming default on a $5.3 million loan. —Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2024

In its unanimous March 7 ruling, a three-judge panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals said the law is clear that the default personal income tax rate in Michigan is 4.25% and an analysis must be performed each year to see whether revenues were high enough to trigger a one-year reduction. —Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 25 Mar. 2024

University officials and the State Board of Education — which is also the university’s Board of Regents — have maintained the nonprofit would wall off taxpayers from liability if the online university defaults. —Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2024

Verb

Since then, dozens of Chinese developers have defaulted on their debts. —Diksha Madhok, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024

In the summer of 2002, Fiorentina went into administration because of huge debts its owners couldn’t repay and six months later, the Cirio group, a majority shareholder in Lazio, defaulted on its loans. —Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024

Evergrande has now defaulted on its debt, been ordered into liquidation, and has been accused by China’s securities regulator of vastly inflating its revenue and profits in 2019 and 2020. —Kiuyan Wong, Fortune Asia, 26 Mar. 2024

Cuellar defaulted on a payment plan started with Mon Cheri in September and owes the designer $20,063.27. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024

That month, Apple said it that in addition to the change allowing rival app stores and payment services, customers in Europe with a new iPhone would see a screen to select a default browser instead of the iPhone’s automatically defaulting to Apple’s browser, Safari. —David McCabe, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024

As a result, users will default to workarounds like spreadsheets, email and rubber stamp approvals out of frustration. —John Milburn, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Last year, the owner of the Gas Company Tower, an affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management Ltd., defaulted on its debt. —Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024

Evergrande defaulted on its offshore debt in December 2021. —Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 19 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing default

• in default
• in default of

Kids Definition

default

1 of 2 noun

de·​fault di-ˈfȯlt 

1

: failure to take action

lost a great opportunity by default

a decision made by default, not by deciding

2

: failure to do something required (as make a payment or appear in court)

in default on a loan

lost a court case by default

3

: a selection to be made automatically according to a computer program when the user does not specify a choice

default

2 of 2 verb

: to fail to carry out a contract, obligation, or duty

defaulter noun

Legal Definition

default

noun

de·​fault di-ˈfȯlt, ˈdē-ˌfȯlt 

1

: failure to do something required by duty (as under a contract or by law): as

a

: failure to comply with the terms of a loan agreement or security agreement especially with regard to payment of the debt

b

in the civil law of Louisiana : a delay in performing under a contract that is recognized by the other party

Note: A party whose performance under a contract is delayed is not automatically in default. Rather, the law of Louisiana requires that the other party “put him or her in default” by a written or witnessed oral request for performance, by filing suit, or by invoking a specific provision in the contract. Moratory damages may be recoverable for loss caused by the delay.

2

: failure to defend against a claim in court (as by failing to file pleadings or to appear in court) see also default judgment at judgment sense 1a

default verb

defaulter noun

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French defalte defaute lack, fault, failure to answer a summons, from defaillir to be lacking, fail, from de-, intensive prefix + faillir to fail