fault

play

noun \ ˈfȯlt , in poetry also ˈfȯt \

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

Schiappa echoed that sentiment, telling NPR that punitive measures for catcalling will send a message that such abuse is not the fault of women.

— claire zillman, Fortune, "France Wants to Criminalize Catcalling. Should the U.S. Do the Same?," 29 Aug. 2017
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan, 7: Not at fault for either goal, and made several tough saves.

— atlanta united fc, ajc, "Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2: Player ratings," 26 Aug. 2017
The suspension insulated us fairly well from road faults – including the ridiculous speed bumps in my own gated community.

— g. chambers williams iii, star-telegram, "Chevrolet’s 2017 Silverado 1500 Z71 perfect for on- or off-road excursions," 25 Aug. 2017
And Trump isn’t at fault for the mere existence of a tropical cyclone.

— talmon joseph smith, GQ, "Hurricane Harvey Is Going to Be Donald Trump's First Big Natural Disaster Test," 25 Aug. 2017
One hundred points to Jon Snow! Loses a dragon in the process: Totally blaming him because his non-plan was the worst plan in the history of plans, and everything is his fault.

— kayleigh roberts, Marie Claire, "I Think Jon Snow Is Worthless and Should Have Stayed Dead," 24 Aug. 2017
But Drew realized that for all their faults on the macroscale, ion thrusters could work wonders on the microscale.

— ben panko, Smithsonian, "The Sci-Fi Technology that Could Power Microbots," 8 Aug. 2017
That’s right: your health problems are not your fault.

— bryant stamford, The Courier-Journal, "Are your health problems not your fault? That's what this new book says," 3 Aug. 2017
And only as recently as 1991 were these devices legally required to contain ground fault circuit interrupters, which greatly decrease the danger of high-voltage injury or death.

— maria teresa hart, The Atlantic, "The Hair Dryer, Freedom’s Appliance," 1 Aug. 2017

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

See Words from the same year

fault Synonyms

Synonyms

demerit, dereliction, failing, foible, frailty, shortcoming, sin, vice, want, weakness, feet of clay

Antonyms

merit, virtue

Related Words

blot, spot, stain; blemish, deficiency, flaw, imperfection, minus, nit; Achilles' heel, soft spot; corruption, depravity, evil, immorality, sinfulness, wickedness

Near Antonyms

excellence, perfection; goodness, integrity, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousness

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

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

No one wanted to fault the Lautenberg program, though, noting the tenuous situation in Ukraine and the fact that Christian minorities, who are seen as being pro-West, are still vulnerable to persecution in pro-Russian areas.

— miriam jordan, New York Times, "Soviet-Era Program Gives Even Unoppressed Immigrants an Edge," 26 Aug. 2017
Democrats (64 percent) were by far the most likely to fault the white nationalists, while a majority of Republicans (54 percent) blamed both sides equally.

— morning consult, Fortune, "Trump’s Approval Drops to 39% in New Poll," 23 Aug. 2017
An investigation prompted by Chief Thomas Ronalter's refusal to hang the photograph of the department's first black fire chief faulted Ronalter for racial insensitivity.

— don stacom, Courant Community, "Private Probe Finds 'Serious Racial Insensitivity' Of New Britain Fire Chief," 16 Aug. 2017
Moss faults neoliberal avarice, which has been beckoned to New York’s neighborhoods by the siren call of (usually white) artists and the gentrification that follows them.

— amy rose spiegel, New Republic, "Who Killed New York City?," 27 July 2017
Some patients who are in disputes with the insurers have faulted the nursing home staff — who work for the same company — for not helping challenge decisions about coverage.

— jordan rau, Kaiser Health News, "Nursing Homes Move Into The Insurance Business," 13 July 2017
It’s hard to fault highway fuel economy in the mid-20s on a vehicle of this size with 300-plus horsepower and all-wheel drive.

— eric stafford, Car and Driver, "2017 Audi A7," 12 July 2017
Reviews of all three concerts praised his technique but faulted his lack of musical depth, a common failing of young virtuosos.

— margalit fox, New York Times, "Paul Zukofsky, Virtuoso Violinist and Literary Executor, Dies at 73," 20 June 2017
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.

— josh lederman, The Seattle Times, "No agreement reached as diplomats huddle on Venezuela crisis," 1 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of fault

see ¹fault

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

fault Synonyms

Synonyms

blame, censure, condemn, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], dispraise, criticize, knock, pan, reprehend, slag [chiefly British]

Antonyms

extol (also extoll), laud, praise

Related Words

skewer, tweak; assail, attack, blast, clobber, slam, slash; nick (at), snipe (at); beef, bellyache, bitch, carp, cavil, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, murmur, mutter, niggle, 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

Near Antonyms

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

FAULT Defined for English Language Learners

fault

play

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

play

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