: a fracture in the crust of a planet (such as the earth) or moon accompanied by a displacement of one side of the fracture with respect to the other usually in a direction parallel to the fracture
Frequent earthquakes have occurred along the San Andreas Fault.
fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.
a writer of many virtues and few faults
failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.
being late is a failing of mine
frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.
human frailties
foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.
an eccentric's charming foibles
vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.
compulsive gambling was his vice
Examples of fault in a Sentence
Noun
Lack of courage is his worst fault.
If the book has a fault, it's that it's too long.
It's your own fault you missed that bus.
Through no fault of his own, he won't be able to attend the meeting.
She committed too many faults to win the match. Verb
The truck driver was faulted for the accident.
Many have faulted her for not acting sooner.
I can't fault him for trying to protect his family.
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Noun
There is some sympathy for Potter among the players that this situation is not all his fault.—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025 Hoover started the second half with an interception that wasn’t his fault as the ball bounced off of Jordan Dwyer’s hands into the hands of Adrian Wilson near the goal line.—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
Barb Jacobson, a voter from Hebron, faulted the last administration for failing to release records of the deceased financier.—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Sep. 2025 Auditors also faulted the district for failing to ensure that the revenue-sharing arrangement with BusPatrol was being properly calculated.—Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fault
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English faute, falte, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *fallita, from feminine of fallitus, past participle of Latin fallere to deceive, disappoint
Note:
Sometimes when fault is used in legal contexts it includes negligence, sometimes it is considered synonymous with negligence, and sometimes it is distinguished from negligence. Fault and negligence are the usual bases for liability in the law of torts.
2
: responsibility for an act or omission that causes damage or injury to another
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