1
a
: omission of occurrence or performance
b(1)
: a state of inability to perform a normal function
kidney failure
compare heart failure
(2)
: an abrupt cessation of normal functioning
a power failure
c
: a fracturing or giving way under stress
structural failure
2
a
: lack of success
b
: a failing in business : bankruptcy
He was trying to rescue the company from failure.
3
a
: a falling short : deficiency
a crop failure
b
4
: one that has failed
He felt like a failure when he wasn't accepted into law school.
Examples of failure in a Sentence
He became discouraged by his repeated failures in business.
He was often crippled by his fear of failure.
The accident was caused by engine failure.
The patient was suffering from heart failure.
The accident was caused by a failure to use proper procedures.
She was criticized for failure to follow directions.
The drought caused crop failure.
He felt like a failure when he wasn't accepted into law school.
The scheme was a complete failure.
Recent Examples on the Web
The fact that Sweden and Finland joined the alliance as a direct result of the full-scale invasion is a clear failure of that aim, Finland’s accession alone more than doubling the land border between Russia and NATO states.
—
Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
The persistence of deportation and enforcement practices across Democratic and Republican administrations reflects a broader failure to establish genuinely humane immigration policies.
—Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
To Bickerstaff, playoff heartbreak is less a setback than a prerequisite—the uncomfortable but necessary proof that a young core has reached the stage where details, discipline and execution matter more than talent, and the kind of failure that teaches lessons a regular-season win streak never can.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2026
Without treatment, sepsis can quickly lead to septic shock and multiple organ failure.
—Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for failure
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
The persistence of deportation and enforcement practices across Democratic and Republican administrations reflects a broader failure to establish genuinely humane immigration policies.
—Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
To Bickerstaff, playoff heartbreak is less a setback than a prerequisite—the uncomfortable but necessary proof that a young core has reached the stage where details, discipline and execution matter more than talent, and the kind of failure that teaches lessons a regular-season win streak never can.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2026
Without treatment, sepsis can quickly lead to septic shock and multiple organ failure.
—Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for failure
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/failure. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
failure
noun
fail·ure
ˈfā(ə)l-yər 
1
a
: a failing to do or perform
failure to pass the test
b
: neglect of an assigned or expected action
failure to pay on time
c
: inability to perform a normal function well enough
heart failure
2
a
: a lack of success
failure in the campaign
b
: bankruptcy
a business failure
3
a
: a falling short : deficiency
crop failure
b
: a breaking down
a failure of memory
4
: one that has failed
the scheme was a complete failure
Medical Definition
failure
noun
fail·ure
ˈfā(ə)l-yər
: a state of inability to perform a vital function
acute renal failure
respiratory failure
see heart failure
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