fault

noun \ ˈfȯlt , in poetry also ˈfȯt \

|Updated on: 14 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: fault in a Sentence

Definition of fault

1 obsolete : lack

2 a : weakness, failing; especially : a moral weakness less serious than a vice

He loves her despite her many faults.

b : a physical or intellectual imperfection or impairment : defect

a theory with some serious faults

c : an error especially in service in a net or racket game

She committed too many faults to win the match.

3 a : misdemeanor

a small boy's faults

b : mistake

The misplacement of "only" is one of the most common writing faults.

4 : responsibility for wrongdoing or failure

the accident was the driver's fault

5 : a fracture in the crust of a planet (such as the earth) or moon accompanied by a displacement of one side of the fracture with respect to the other usually in a direction parallel to the fracture

Frequent earthquakes have occurred along the San Andreas Fault.

— at fault

1 : unable to find the scent and continue chase

2 : open to blame : responsible

you were really at fault

— to a fault

: to an excessive degree

precise to a fault

See fault defined for English-language learners

See fault defined for kids

Examples of fault in a Sentence

Lack of courage is his worst fault.
If the book has a fault, it's that it's too long.
It's your own fault you missed that bus.
Through no fault of his own, he won't be able to attend the meeting.
She committed too many faults to win the match.

Recent Examples of fault from the Web

To continue reading this story, TRY IT NOW What came next was not exactly historic, but that was not his fault.

— mike finger, San Antonio Express-News, "Gay, Spurs were a perfect fit — with lousy timing," 19 June 2018
Just because guys don’t know what to do with me is not my fault.

— rachel hahn, Vogue, "Junglepussy’s Latest Style Icon Is Her 16-Year-Old Self," 13 June 2018
Let a child know that the illness or injury is not their fault.

— beth kassab, OrlandoSentinel.com, "How to give a child bad news about a diagnosis," 7 June 2018
Soon after, her husband filed for an at-fault divorce, citing adultery as the main reason.

— amanda garrity, Good Housekeeping, "Simon Cowell and Partner Lauren Silverman Have a Controversial Love Story," 29 May 2018
The fault rests entirely with Mr. Trump and his advisers.

— ciara nugent, Time, "'An Unprecedented Scandal': How Newspapers Around the World Reacted to Trump's Behavior at the G-7 Summit," 11 June 2018
Not Harden’s fault, but now that award seems as precious as a participant trophy.

— scott ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, "Finals answers and Golden statements," 11 June 2018
IndyCar Race Control deemed the accident Power's fault and assessed him a post-race penalty.

— jim ayello, Indianapolis Star, "IndyCar: Scott Dixon moves into 3rd place on all time wins list with triumph at Texas," 9 June 2018
Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter Apple Watch hasn’t been without fault.

— don reisinger, Fortune, "Every Apple Watch Has This 'Defect,' Class Action Lawsuit Says," 7 June 2018

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

Illustration of fault

Origin and Etymology of fault

Middle English faute, falte, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *fallita, from feminine of fallitus, past participle of Latin fallere to deceive, disappoint

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

fault Synonyms

Phrases

feet of clay;

Synonym Discussion of fault

fault, failing, frailty, foible, vice mean an imperfection or weakness of character. fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.

- a writer of many virtues and few faults

failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.

- being late is a failing of mine

frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.

- human frailties

foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.

- an eccentric's charming foibles

vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.

- compulsive gambling was his vice

fault

verb

Definition of fault

faulted; faulting; faults

intransitive verb

1 : to commit a fault : err

2 : to fracture so as to produce a geologic fault

transitive verb

1 : to find a fault in

easy to praise this book and to fault it
—H. G. Roepke

2 : to produce a geologic fault in

3 : blame, censure

can't fault them for not coming

See fault defined for English-language learners

Examples of fault in a Sentence

The truck driver was faulted for the accident.
Many have faulted her for not acting sooner.
I can't fault him for trying to protect his family.

Recent Examples of fault from the Web

His view, if upheld, would have delayed a constitutional challenge to the law, and some on the right faulted him for not simply declaring the law unconstitutional.

— david g. savage, latimes.com, "Brett Kavanaugh, a Washington veteran, is Trump's second pick for the Supreme Court," 10 July 2018
The low-budget effort can't be faulted on a technical level either, with director Cruz infusing the story's single setting with cinematic polish.

— frank scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Eat Me': Film Review," 5 July 2018
But the Trump administration needs to avoid the all too easy temptation to blame Beijing or to fault Seoul.

— sean illing, Vox, "Trump just canceled the North Korea summit. 9 experts explain what happens now.," 24 May 2018
Specifically, the suit faults the company for overflowing wastewater tanks that may have mingled with floodwaters.

— keri blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Liberty County sues Arkema for $1 million over Harvey disaster," 12 Mar. 2018
Ben Wikler, the Washington director for the progressive group MoveOn, faults the Times for not having a dedicated reporter covering the left in the way the Post’s Dave Weigel does.

— graham vyse, New Republic, "The Left’s War Against The New York Times," 8 Feb. 2018
In a radio interview with Howard Stern, Tarantino repeatedly appears to fault Polanski's young victim, reports CBS News' Jericka Duncan.

— CBS News, "Quentin Tarantino appears to defend Roman Polanski in resurfaced radio interview," 7 Feb. 2018
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said voters will fault Trump and the GOP.

— zeke miller, andrew taylor, Time, "As Government Shutdown Begins, So Does the Finger-Pointing," 20 Jan. 2018
Strzok was faulted for his anti-Trump bias in the inspector general report, but the report also concluded that the bias did not impact the Clinton investigation.

— jeremy herb, CNN, "House GOP lawmaker plans to subpoena FBI agent to testify," 15 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of fault

see ¹fault

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

fault Synonyms

Synonyms

blame, censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, knock, pan, reprehend;

Antonyms

extol (also extoll), laud, praise;

Near Antonyms

approve, commend, endorse (also indorse), recommend, sanction;

Related Words

skewer, tweak;

assail, attack, blast, clobber, slam, slash;

nick (at), snipe (at);

beef, bellyache, carp, cavil, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, murmur, mutter, quibble, whine;

admonish, chide, drub, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove;

berate, castigate, crucify, excoriate, flay, gibbet, hammer, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lash, pillory, scold, upbraid;

bad-mouth, belittle, decry, deride, discommend, disparage, put down;

Phrases

come down hard (on), find fault (with), take to task;

FAULT Defined for English Language Learners

fault

noun

Definition of fault for English Language Learners

: a bad quality or part of someone's character : a weakness in character
: a problem or bad part that prevents something from being perfect : a flaw or defect
: responsibility for a problem, mistake, bad situation, etc.

fault

verb

Definition of fault for English Language Learners

: to criticize (something)
: to blame or criticize (someone)

FAULT Defined for Kids

fault

noun \ ˈfȯlt \

Definition of fault for Students

1 : a weakness in character : failing

Forgetfulness is my worst fault.

2 : responsibility for something wrong

Why should he take the blame when it wasn't his fault?

3 : flaw, imperfection

She bought the jacket even though it had a fault.

4 : a crack in the earth's crust along which movement occurs

— at fault

: responsible for something wrong

Law Dictionary

fault

noun

legal Definition of fault

1 : a usually intentional act forbidden by law; also : a usually intentional omission to do something (as to exercise due care) required by law — see also negligence — compare no-fault, strict liability at liability

Note: Sometimes when fault is used in legal contexts it includes negligence, sometimes it is considered synonymous with negligence, and sometimes it is distinguished from negligence. Fault and negligence are the usual bases for liability in the law of torts.

2 : responsibility for an act or omission that causes damage or injury to another