fault line

noun

: something resembling a fault : split, rift
a major conceptual fault line in foreign policyMorton Kondracke

Examples of fault line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
America is more divided than ever, not just along party lines but by an economic fault line. Ro Khanna, Twin Cities, 12 June 2025 For both sections, river runners see the Mitten Park Fault, a fault line where the rocks shoot vertically versus horizontally. Morgan Tilton, Denver Post, 8 June 2025 Turkey is located near two fault lines, making the country especially susceptible to earthquakes. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025 Istanbul was not affected by that earthquake, but the devastation heightened fears of a similar quake, with experts citing the city’s proximity to fault lines. Mehmet Guzel and Suzan Fraser, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fault line

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fault line was in 1869

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Cite this Entry

“Fault line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fault%20line. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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