failure

play

noun fail·ure \ ˈfāl-yər \

Definition of failure

1 a :omission of occurrence or performance; specifically :a failing to perform a duty or expected action

failure to pay the rent on time

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 :deterioration, decay

4 :one that has failed

He felt like a failure when he wasn't accepted into law school.

See failure defined for English-language learners

See failure defined for kids

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 of failure from the Web

The 102-inch diameter concrete sewer line dates to 1948 and the Metropolitan Sewer District blames the failure on age.

— james bruggers, The Courier-Journal, "Sewer line sinkhole swallows portion of E. Main Street, potentially closing it for weeks," 30 Aug. 2017
After his team’s second pass at banning immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries was rejected by the courts, Trump blamed the Department of Justice for the failure.

— philip bump, Washington Post, "With Trump leaving tax reform to Congress, does the buck ever stop in the Oval Office?," 30 Aug. 2017
For the more than 100,000 people nationally who already have advanced kidney failure, getting a new kidney could take more than five years.

— jeremy gorner, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago's grateful top cop to get kidney Wednesday from donor son," 29 Aug. 2017
He is being held without bond on suspicion of second-degree murder, malicious wounding and failure to stop for an accident involving a death and hit-and-run.

— steve beynon, Cincinnati.com, "Ex-Mason student charged in Charlottesville beating to stay in Hamilton County for now," 29 Aug. 2017
The breaches of the levees compounded those problems and represented an engineering failure of grave proportions.

— shaila dewan and john schwartz, New York Times, "How Does Hurricane Harvey Compare With Katrina? Here’s What We Know," 28 Aug. 2017
The candidacy of Donald Trump and the quality of political discourse is evidence of our failure.

— danielle tcholakian, Longreads, "I Want to Persuade You to Care About Other People," 24 Aug. 2017
But if left untreated, Addison's can contribute to a slow death from infection or adrenal failure.

— ben panko, Smithsonian, "A Dentist Weighs in On What Really Doomed the Franklin Expedition," 22 Aug. 2017
When Onassis died of respiratory failure in Paris, Jackie was in New York City, which also raised eyebrows.

— nancy bilyeau, Town & Country, "How Jackie Kennedy Became a Powerful Book Editor After Leaving the White House," 18 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'failure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of failure

alteration of earlier failer, from Anglo-French, from Old French faillir to fail

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1643

See Words from the same year

failure Synonyms

Synonyms

default, delinquency, dereliction, misprision, neglect, negligence, nonfeasance, oversight

Antonyms

accomplishment, achievement, success

Related Words

carelessness, heedlessness, inadvertence, inadvertency, laxity

Near Antonyms

compliance, discharge, fulfillment (or fulfilment)

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

FAILURE Defined for Kids

failure

play

noun fail·ure \ ˈfāl-yər \

Definition of failure for Students

1 :a lack of success

The experiment resulted in failure.

2 :the act of neglecting or forgetting to do or perform

I was disappointed by his failure to keep a promise.

3 :an instance of not working properly

power failure

a failure of memory

4 :a loss of the ability to work normally

heart failure

5 :someone or something that has not succeeded

The new show was a failure.

6 :an instance of falling short

crop failure

7 :bankruptcy

Medical Dictionary

failure

play

noun fail·ure \ ˈfā(ə)l-yər \

medical Definition of failure

:a state of inability to perform a vital function

acute renal failure

respiratory failure

— see heart failure

Law Dictionary

failure

noun fail·ure

legal Definition of failure

1 :omission of occurrence or performance; specifically :a failing to perform a duty or expected action

a failure to mitigate damages

failure to prosecute

2 :a lack of success or adequacy

failure of a suit

3 :a failing in business

Learn More about failure

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for failure Spanish Central: Translation of failure Nglish: Translation of failure for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of failure for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up failure? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

failure

Definition of failure

Read the Latest from M-W

Examples of failure in a Sentence

Recent Examples of failure from the Web

Origin and Etymology of failure

failure Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Business Terms

FAILURE Defined for Kids

failure

Definition of failure for Students

Medical Dictionary

failure

medical Definition of failure

Law Dictionary

failure

legal Definition of failure

Learn More about failure

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

What's Going On With 'Nonplussed'?

9 Slang Words With Academic Origins

Trending: 'Bodega' Startup Draws Criticism, Mockery

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Words of the Year: 1066