failed state

American  

noun

1. a nation in which the government has lost political authority and control and is unable to fulfill the basic responsibilities of a sovereign state.

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failed state British  

noun

1. a weak state where social and political structures have collapsed to the point where the government has little or no control

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Etymology

Origin of failed state

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

failed state

The entire advisory reads like the script for a dystopian sci-fi film describing a chaotic, violent failed state run by criminal gangs.

From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2026

“They’re unconscionable, and should serve as a turning point in California’s failed state prison system, and the way they handle these types of allegations.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Well before today’s war, Iran was sliding toward becoming a failed state.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

In the aftermath of the seizure and rendition of Nicolas Maduro, Kazin posted on X about his experiences and the vicissitudes of running an operation in what was clearly a chaotic, dysfunctional, failed state.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 8, 2026

Maybe the most entwined with the mercenaries was Mali, where an ongoing Islamist insurgency, combined with multiple coups, had left an essentially failed state.

From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2024