at fault

Idioms  

1. Responsible for a mistake, trouble, or failure; deserving blame. For example, At least three cars were involved in the accident, so it was hard to determine which driver was at fault, or He kept missing the target and wondered if the sight on his new rifle was at fault. In Britain this usage was formerly considered incorrect but is now acceptable; in America it has been widespread since the mid-1800s. Also see in the wrong.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

at fault

It was revealed that in a majority of those crashes, the e-bike rider was at fault.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

The damages awarded for the period Google was deemed at fault -- 15 years in the UK and 10 years in Sweden and Denmark -- were also lower than what Pricerunner had requested, he noted.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

The coroner said the jury cannot find anyone at fault or apportion blame in their inquest verdict.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

It had tested its products, found no pathogens and wasn’t at fault, McAfee said.

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

And adding to her irritation was the suggestion—the insane proposition—that somehow Jim had been at fault.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel