default

de·fault

Use default in a sentence

noun

Default is defined as the action of failing to fulfill an obligation.
An example of default is the action you take when you fail to pay your credit card.

verb

To default is defined as to fail to do something which is expected.
An example of default is when you fail to pay your credit card bill.

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"default." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 09 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Default>.

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default. (n.d.). Retrieved February 09th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Default

default

failure to do something or be somewhere when required or expected; specif.,
1. failure to pay money due
2. failure to appear in court to defend or prosecute a case
3. failure to take part in or finish a contest
Comput. a preset choice, setting, etc. for automatic use as by a program when no other is specified by a user
any choice or option that someone naturally or routinely falls back on or resorts to
Obs. a fault, lack, or want

Origin of default

Middle English from Old French defaute from Vulgar Latin an unverified form defallita, past participle of an unverified form defallere, to lack from Classical Latin de-, away + fallere, to fail

Comput. designating a choice, setting, etc. that is the default (noun): a default printer
being the choice or option regarded as routine, automatic, etc.: the Administration's default position on tax cuts

to fail to do something or be somewhere when required or expected; specif.,
1. to fail to make payment when due
2. to fail to appear in court when required
3. to fail to take part in or finish a contest
to lose a contest by default
to turn or proceed to a particular choice or option automatically or routinely: informal except in technical uses

Origin of default

ME defauten < OFr defauter

to fail to do, pay, finish, etc. (something) when required
to lose (a contest, etc.) by default; forfeit

default Idioms

in default of

in the absence of; through lack of

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"default." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 09 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Default>.

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default. (n.d.). Retrieved February 09th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Default

default

noun

Failure to perform a task or fulfill an obligation, especially failure to meet a financial obligation: in default on a loan.
Law Failure of a party in a case to make a required court appearance.
The failure of one or more competitors or teams to participate in a contest: won the championship by default.
a. Computers A particular setting or value for a variable that is assigned automatically by an operating system and remains in effect unless canceled or overridden by the operator: changed the default for the page margins.
b. A situation or condition that is the case in the absence of active intervention.

verb

de·fault·ed, de·fault·ing, de·faults

verb

intransitive

a. To fail to do what is required.
b. To fail to pay money when it is due.
Computers To revert to a default.
Law
a. To fail to appear in court as a party to a case when summoned.
b. To lose a case by not appearing.
To fail to take part in or complete a scheduled contest.

verb

transitive

To fail to perform or pay.
Law To lose (a case) by failing to appear in court.
To fail to take part in or complete (a contest, for example).

Origin of default

Middle English defaute from Old French from past participle of defaillir to fail, grow weak de- intensive pref. ; see de- . faillir ; see fail.

Related Forms:

de·fault′er
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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default. (n.d.). Retrieved February 09th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Default

Noun

(plural defaults)

(finance) The condition of failing to meet an obligation.
He failed to make payments on time and is now in default.
You may cure this default by paying the full amount within a week.
(electronics, computing) the original software programming settings as set by the factory
A loss incurred by failing to compete.
The team's three losses include one default.
A selection made in the absence of an alternative.
The man became the leader of the group as a default.
(often) A value used when none has been given; a tentative value or standard that is presumed.
If you don't specify a number of items, the default is 1.
(law) The failure of a defendant to appear and answer a summons and complaint.
Alexander Pope
regardless of our merit or default

Verb

(third-person singular simple present defaults, present participle defaulting, simple past and past participle defaulted)

(intransitive) To fail to meet an obligation.
If you do not make your payments, you will default on your loan.
(intransitive) To lose a competition by failing to compete.
If you refuse to wear a proper uniform, you will not be allowed to compete and will default this match.
(intransitive, computing) To assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard.
If you don't specify a number of items, it defaults to 1.
(intransitive, law) To fail to appear and answer a summons and complaint.

Anagrams

faulted

Origin

From Middle English, from Old French defaute (“fault, defect, failure, culpability, lack”), ultimately from Latin de- (“away”) + fallo (“deceive, cheat, escape notice of”)

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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default - Computer Definition

The pre-set value or action taken by software. Application programs have many defaults, including margin settings, font style, the printer that should be used and the folder name for saving files. Although pre-determined by the vendor, a default setting can be changed by the user (see settings). Because a particular setting may affect how the hardware operates, there are also "hardware defaults." However, unless there are physical switches or levers on the equipment, the hardware default setting is configured in the software. Default is also a verb. For example, "the program defaults to xyz," means that the program does xyz unless directed otherwise. See default browser, default folder, default drive, default font and default gateway.

Computer Desktop Encyclopedia THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. © 1981-2017 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.

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default - Investment & Finance Definition

Failure to meet the terms of a loan or other debt; such terms may include making periodic payments or repaying the principal by a certain date. When a corporation defaults on a loan, the lender can take legal action toward the company, including pushing it into bankruptcy.