default

verb

defaulted; defaulting; defaults

intransitive verb

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.

transitive verb

1

: to fail to perform, pay, or make good

default a loan

2

a

: forfeit

defaulted the game

b

: to exclude (a player or a team) from a contest by default

was defaulted from the tournament

defaulter noun

Examples of default in a Sentence

If the borrower defaults, the bank can take the house.

The program defaults to a standard font.

Recent Examples on the Web

Software loans are not about to default in a wave. —Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

Teyana Taylor did not just default to a standard pair of Vans for her Essence Festival press conference. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 6 June 2026

For the past two years, the playbook has been to default to the most powerful AI model and direct all queries through it, regardless of complexity. —Jasmine Wu,deirdre Bosa, CNBC, 5 June 2026

Surging costs for utilities, insurance and labor without rising revenues have led some to deteriorate, pushing landlords to default on loans. —Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing default

• in default
• in default of

Rhymes for default

• asphalt
• assault
• basalt
• cobalt
• exalt
• gestalt
• alt
• fault
• gault
• halt
• malt
• sault

Kids Definition

default

1 of 2 noun

de·​fault di-ˈfȯlt 

1

: failure to take action

lost a great opportunity by default

a decision made by default, not by deciding

2

: failure to do something required (as make a payment or appear in court)

in default on a loan

lost a court case by default

3

: a selection to be made automatically according to a computer program when the user does not specify a choice

default

2 of 2 verb

: to fail to carry out a contract, obligation, or duty

defaulter noun

Legal Definition

default

noun

de·​fault di-ˈfȯlt, ˈdē-ˌfȯlt 

1

: failure to do something required by duty (as under a contract or by law): as

a

: failure to comply with the terms of a loan agreement or security agreement especially with regard to payment of the debt

b

in the civil law of Louisiana : a delay in performing under a contract that is recognized by the other party

Note: A party whose performance under a contract is delayed is not automatically in default. Rather, the law of Louisiana requires that the other party “put him or her in default” by a written or witnessed oral request for performance, by filing suit, or by invoking a specific provision in the contract. Moratory damages may be recoverable for loss caused by the delay.

2

: failure to defend against a claim in court (as by failing to file pleadings or to appear in court) see also default judgment at judgment sense 1a

default verb

defaulter noun

Etymology

Anglo-French defalte, defaute lack, fault, failure to answer a summons, from defaillir to be lacking, fail, from de-, intensive prefix + faillir to fail