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
Ensure your team members learn how to code securely, promote an approach where nobody is blamed after a failure, and value those who report issues quickly.
—
Sai Sandeep Ogety, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Extreme heat can cause wiring insulation to deteriorate faster, leading to shorts or failures in electrical components.
—Bethany Wales, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2025
But those failures don’t matter as much because the company’s worth is associated with the publicity surrounding its cult of personality.
—Maximo Bratter, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
Officials said that the situation at Harvard represents not simply a failure to address specific incidents, but a structural climate that has allowed antisemitism to persist, prompting government intervention to uphold civil rights standards.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sai Sandeep Ogety, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Extreme heat can cause wiring insulation to deteriorate faster, leading to shorts or failures in electrical components.
—Bethany Wales, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2025
But those failures don’t matter as much because the company’s worth is associated with the publicity surrounding its cult of personality.
—Maximo Bratter, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
Officials said that the situation at Harvard represents not simply a failure to address specific incidents, but a structural climate that has allowed antisemitism to persist, prompting government intervention to uphold civil rights standards.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for failure
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/failure. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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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