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

Many Iranians, initially welcoming the war, now fear the regime will emerge hardened or that strikes could cause Iran to become a failed state.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 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

“No one wants a failed state in Sudan.”

From New York Times • Apr. 22, 2023