: 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.
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
Examples of fault in a Sentence
Noun
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. Verb
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.
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Noun
The Stewards determine that the driver of Car 87 is predominantly at fault and therefore the standard penalty for such incidents is applied.—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025 If the human drama is seldom as alive as the flames, that’s no fault of the fine leads, Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera.—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
Another superb backhand winner saved a break point in Sabalenka’s next service game after she had double-faulted and chucked her racket to the ground in frustration.—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025 In the next game, with the thousands in the stands roaring for every point gained by the American, Sabalenka netted off-balance groundstrokes on two points in a row and double-faulted to get broken right back.—Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fault
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English faute, falte, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *fallita, from feminine of fallitus, past participle of Latin fallere to deceive, disappoint
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
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