default

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