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View synonyms for

failure

[feyl-yer]

noun

  1. an act or instance of failing fail or proving unsuccessful; lack of success.

    His effort ended in failure.

    The campaign was a failure.

  2. nonperformance of something due, required, or expected.

    a failure to do what one has promised;

    a failure to appear.

  3. a subnormal quantity or quality; an insufficiency.

    the failure of crops.

  4. deterioration or decay, especially of vigor, strength, etc..

    The failure of her health made retirement necessary.

  5. a condition of being bankrupt by reason of insolvency.

  6. a becoming insolvent or bankrupt.

    the failure of a bank.

  7. a person or thing that proves unsuccessful.

    He is a failure in his career.

    The cake is a failure.



failure

/ ˈڱɪə /

noun

  1. the act or an instance of failing

  2. a person or thing that is unsuccessful or disappointing

    the evening was a failure

  3. nonperformance of something required or expected

    failure to attend will be punished

  4. cessation of normal operation; breakdown

    a power failure

  5. an insufficiency or shortage

    a crop failure

  6. a decline or loss, as in health or strength

  7. the fact of not reaching the required standard in an examination, test, course, etc

  8. the act or process of becoming bankrupt or the state of being bankrupt

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • nonfailure noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of failure1

First recorded in 1635–45; fail + -ure; replacing failer “a fault, default,” from Anglo-French (noun use of infinitive), for Old French faillir
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It cited Iran's "many failures" to provide full answers about undeclared nuclear material and Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.

From

This is the first and last special ever taped by the budding comedian, who died in the midst of his headlining “Butterfly Effect” tour at age 28, following a history of congestive heart failure.

From

"These low-chill apples can be grown as novelty fruit in a kitchen garden, but their viability as a commercial crop is not proven... most of them are a failure," he says.

From

Chris Robinson, the actor who played Dr. Rick Webber on “General Hospital” and also introduced America to a classic turn of phrase in a commercial for cough syrup, has died of heart failure.

From

One cause that has been speculated on by some experts is the possibility of an extremely rare double engine failure.

From

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