Definition of fault
(Entry 1 of 2)
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.
2
: responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
the accident was the driver's fault
3a
: mistake
The misplacement of "only" is one of the most common writing faults.
b
: misdemeanor
a small boy's faults
4
: 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
to a fault
1
: open to blame : responsible
you were really at fault
2
: unable to find the scent and continue chase
: to an excessive degree
precise to a fault
fault
verb
faulted; faulting; faults
Definition of fault (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to find a fault in
easy to praise this book and to fault it— H. G. Roepke
3
: to produce a geologic fault in
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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The first known use of fault was in the 13th century
See more words from the same century