Synonyms

at fault

Idioms

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.

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.

at fault

Only after that did Pirro bother to review the evidence and conclude the renovation was at fault.

From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2026

The state trooper told me the other driver was at fault.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026

A Waymo spokesperson suggested the company’s vehicle was not at fault.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

Hamilton was therefore "wholly at fault for the collision".

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

In fact, it was her radiologist who was potentially at fault.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023