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failure Definition

fail·ure (fālyər)

noun

  1. the act of failing or the state or condition resulting from having failed; specif.,
    1. a falling short
    2. a losing of power or strength
    3. a breakdown in operation or function
    4. neglect or omission
    5. a not succeeding in doing or becoming
    6. a becoming bankrupt
  2. a person or thing that fails
  3. Educ.
    1. a failing to pass
    2. ☆ a grade or mark (usually F) indicating a failing to pass

Etymology: < earlier failer < Anglo-Fr < OFr faillir: see fail

failure Synonyms

failure

n.

  1. An unsuccessful attempt

    fiasco, misadventure, nonperformance, abortion, bankruptcy, insolvency, nonsuccess, miscarriage, labor in vain, botch, bungle, frustration, misstep, false step, faux pas, breakdown, malfunction, checkmate, stoppage, collapse, rupture, defeat, rout, overthrow, downfall, implosion, breakdown in communication, total loss, crash, stalemate, negligence, omission, dereliction, no go*, flop*, turkey*, clinker*, loser*, bust*, dud*, washout*, dog*, bomb*, bummer*, lead balloon*, lemon*, flash in the pan*, slip 'twixt the cup and the lip*, losing game*, sinking ship*, sleeveless errand*, louse-up*, mess*, fizzle*, non-starter*. *

    Antonyms success*, accomplishment*, triumph. *

  2. An unsuccessful person

    incompetent, defaulter, nonperformer, underachiever, ne'er-do-well, scapegrace, prodigal, bankrupt, derelict, castaway, beachcomber, ski bum, loser*, flunker*, born loser*, turkey*, dead duck*, has-been*, also-ran*, lemon*, flop*, bum*, no-account*, dud*, schlemiel*. *

    Antonyms success*, veteran*, star.

failure Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • suffer: The gearbox suffered the failure of a bolt in its upper part.
  • admit: The Home Office has admitted a failure to protect Mr Danielson whilst he worked at the prison.
  • allege: Alleging failures in some of auto insurance ontario rate the isdn codec can before they can.
  • indicate: It may indicate a failure to declare the index to be an integer.

Converse of subject

hamper: The Government recognizes that progress toward sustainable development has in the past been hampered by failure to take proper account of the environmental elements.

Adjective modifier

  • renal: The kidneys are badly injured which can lead to chronic renal failure.
  • congestive: Two days after the third course started, she suffered from dyspnea caused by congestive heart failure.
  • catastrophic: Lower bound solutions are obtained for the maximum thermal shock that the plate can sustain without catastrophic failure according to two distinct criteria.
  • chronic: The kidneys are badly injured which can lead to chronic renal failure.
  • respiratory: Nitric oxide in respiratory failure in the newborn infant.
  • cardiac: Typically it presents as cyanosis, shock, cardiac failure or a murmur on routine check.

Modifies a noun

  • mode: The failure modes of smart sensors suggest that smart sensors might be more susceptible to common cause failure than conventional ones.
  • rate: With perfect use, failure rates are in the region of 6 per hundred women years.

Noun used with modifier

  • kidney: Digger had been battling kidney failure for some months.
  • heart: Risk factors are: heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, a previous history of blood clots.
  • liver: They still don't know what caused her cirrhosis and the eventual liver failure.
  • hardware: The company sought to implement IT systems that would be immune to the potentially devastating consequences of hardware failure.
  • organ: His head swelled up like a balloon and he suffered multiple organ failure ' .
  • crop: They are better able to meet basic needs and to deal with sudden expenses that arise, for example from illness or crop failure.

Preposition: of

imagination: I attribute it to a childlike ego and a failure of imagination.

Browse dictionary entries near failure

  1. faille
  2. failing
  3. fail-safe
  4. fail
  5. faience
  6. Fahrenheit
  7. Fahd
  8. fagoting
  9. fagot
  10. Fagin
  1. failure of consideration
  2. failure of issue
  3. fain
  4. fainéant
  5. faint
  6. faint pleader
  7. fainthearted
  8. fair
  9. fair ball
  10. fair catch