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
On February 14th, Anthropic was told that a failure to accept the government’s demands might result in contract cancellation.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
In February, the top contributing factors to crashes at intersections were failure to yield during a left turn, running through stop signs, and failing to yield at stop signs.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026
Churches had long viewed drug use as a moral failure and supported draconian measures—beliefs that many of the faithful shared.
—Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Underlying all of it, Smetters argued, is an epistemic failure in how Washington evaluates fiscal policy.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for failure
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
In February, the top contributing factors to crashes at intersections were failure to yield during a left turn, running through stop signs, and failing to yield at stop signs.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026
Churches had long viewed drug use as a moral failure and supported draconian measures—beliefs that many of the faithful shared.
—Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Underlying all of it, Smetters argued, is an epistemic failure in how Washington evaluates fiscal policy.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for failure
Cite this Entry
“Failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/failure. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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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