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 : 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