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

Lebanon has long teetered on the edge of being a failed state.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 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

"We are not a failed state, we are a great state, we should love it and protect and build on all that's been achieved since independence to make it better still."

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2024

Libya has been a failed state for more than a decade, with no government exercising nationwide authority since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011.

From Reuters • Sep. 19, 2023

“No one wants a failed state in Sudan.”

From New York Times • Apr. 22, 2023