Definition of default
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : failure to do something required by duty or law : neglect
3 economics : a failure to pay financial debts
was in default on her loan mortgage defaults
4a 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
5a : 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
in default of
: in the absence of
default
verbdefaulted; defaulting; defaults
Definition of default (Entry 2 of 2)
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.
1 : to fail to perform, pay, or make good
default a loan
2a : forfeit defaulted the game
b : to exclude (a player or a team) from a contest by default
was defaulted from the tournament
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Time Traveler for default
The first known use of default was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century