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

“Social media has become a failed state, a place where laws are ignored and crime is endured, where disinformation is worth more than truth,” Sánchez told a conference in Dubai in February.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 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

The M23 says it is fighting to achieve better rights for the Tutsis, an ethnic minority group in DR Congo, and to bring order to a failed state.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2025

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

More than half of city students failed state reading exams last year, and proficiency rates were even lower for Black and Latino children.

From New York Times • May 9, 2023