failure

[ feyl-yer ]

noun

1. an act or instance of failing fail or proving unsuccessful; lack of success:

   His effort ended in failure.

   The campaign was a failure.

2. nonperformance of something due, required, or expected:

   a failure to do what one has promised;

   a failure to appear.

3. a subnormal quantity or quality; an insufficiency:

   the failure of crops.

4. deterioration or decay, especially of vigor, strength, etc.:

   The failure of her health made retirement necessary.

5. a condition of being bankrupt by reason of insolvency.
6. a becoming insolvent or bankrupt:

   the failure of a bank.

7. a person or thing that proves unsuccessful:

   He is a failure in his career.

   The cake is a failure.

failure

/ ˈfeɪljə /

noun

1. the act or an instance of failing
2. a person or thing that is unsuccessful or disappointing

   the evening was a failure

3. nonperformance of something required or expected

   failure to attend will be punished

4. cessation of normal operation; breakdown

   a power failure

5. an insufficiency or shortage

   a crop failure

6. a decline or loss, as in health or strength
7. the fact of not reaching the required standard in an examination, test, course, etc
8. the act or process of becoming bankrupt or the state of being bankrupt

Other Words From

• non·failure noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of failure¹

First recorded in 1635–45; fail + -ure; replacing failer “a fault, default,” from Anglo-French (noun use of infinitive), for Old French faillir

Example Sentences

A coroner has found neglect and failure to provide adequate medical care contributed to the preventable death of a baby.

From BBC

The Archbishop of Canterbury has apologised for causing "further distress" after Church of England abuse survivors criticised his Lords farewell speech for making light of serious safeguarding failures.

From BBC

The work lays the foundation for the real-time management and prevention of acute and chronic conditions through the tracking of critical proteins, such as cytokines in inflammation, protein biomarkers in heart failure and many others.

From Science Daily

The failure was initially exposed by a serious incident report into the care of Chris Tyler.

From BBC

But DeBerry and others contend that it is the failure of police to make arrests that emboldens criminals.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bankruptcy
• breakdown
• collapse
• decline
• defeat
• deficiency
• deterioration
• failing
• loss
• misstep