default
noun
failure to act; inaction or neglect.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“We’re on our own,” Chatzky noted, “but defaults are coming.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Yields remain attractive, while stronger corporate balance sheets and a more supportive refinancing backdrop should help keep defaults contained.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
Other countries have fallen victim to debt spirals, where high levels of debt lead investors to demand higher interest rates, in turn fueling more borrowing until eventually a country defaults.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
When equipment is bought on credit, it usually doubles as collateral, or the asset a lender can seize if the loan defaults.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
Like the credit default swap, the CDO had been invented to redistribute the risk of corporate and government bond defaults and was now being rejiggered to disguise the risk of subprime mortgage loans.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
