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.

County in which a law enforcement vehicle was found to be at fault have risen in recent years.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

In this case, an Old World hantavirus was at fault, not the Andes strain that’s responsible for the outbreak on the cruise ship.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

The minister called Mary's experience "totally shocking" and couldn't imagine being in her position where you've asked for help "and the response has been that you're at fault".

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Employment agencies deny they are at fault for the abuses, blaming the government for lack of enforcement.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

He’d had no indication otherwise from police investigators that Reggie was at fault in the deaths of Jim and Keith.

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

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