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Definition of fault
1 obsolete : lack
2a : 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 faultsc : an error especially in service in a net or racket game She committed too many faults to win the match.
3a : misdemeanor a small boy's faultsb : 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
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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
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Because the media are corrupt and Trump is immature, both sides must willingly blind themselves to the faults of their favorite characters.
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The Purge, for all its faults (boring, silly, very boring) at least had one of the best pure concept in modern horror to prop itself up.
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Tennis superstar Venus Williams was found to be at fault in a June 9 car accident that took the life of a 78-year-old man, according to TMZ.
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Computer-forensics firms and investigators determined that the company had been hacked not through any fault of Google’s own software, but via an unpatched flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.
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Santa Barbara has suffered numerous serious earthquakes through the decades, and there are several faults that cross through the area.
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The organization continues to assert that Goudie is at fault for the tragedy.
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Like all those other techies, though, cracks radiate beneath her sleek veneer like fault lines in the desert.
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For some faults, that happens more frequently in late summer, when water levels are lowest and Earth has rebounded from a previously heavy precipitation load.
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
Synonym Discussion of fault
fault
Definition of fault
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
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Reviews of all three concerts praised his technique but faulted his lack of musical depth, a common failing of young virtuosos.
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Protesters have flooded the streets of Venezuela for months — including on Wednesday — demanding new elections and faulting Maduro’s leadership for the country’s triple-digit inflation, surging crime rates, and dire shortages of food and medicine.
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On Wednesday, Rauner, who is up for re-election in 2018, and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, who controls much of the legislative agenda, faulted each other for the unprecedented gridlock.
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Protesters have flooded the streets of Venezuela for months, demanding new elections and faulting President Nicolas Maduro’s leadership for the country’s triple-digit inflation, surging crime rates, and dire shortages of food and medicine.
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CMS investigators had faulted the state in January for a lack of oversight of the private insurance companies administrating the program and for a failure to communicate clear information to the program’s beneficiaries.
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But critics faulted Fields for some of his moves on the products that still generate the vast majority of the company's earnings.
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Still, Munger has long faulted Wall Street for taking on too much risk.
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Bertolini has faulted Obamacare for its insurance risk pools.
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.
Origin and Etymology of fault
see 1fault
FAULT Defined for English Language Learners
fault
playDefinition of fault for English Language Learners
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: a bad quality or part of someone's character : a weakness in character
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: a problem or bad part that prevents something from being perfect : a flaw or defect
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: responsibility for a problem, mistake, bad situation, etc.
fault
Definition of fault for English Language Learners
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: to criticize (something)
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: to blame or criticize (someone)
FAULT Defined for Kids
fault
playDefinition 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
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 Editor's 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 relative degrees of fault — see also comparative fault
at fault
: liable or responsible based on fault was not at fault
Origin and Etymology of fault
Anglo-French faute lack, failing, ultimately from Latin fallere to deceive, disappoint
Learn More about fault
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See words that rhyme with fault Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fault Spanish Central: Translation of fault Nglish: Translation of fault for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fault for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fault
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