in default of

Idioms  

1. Through the failure, absence, or lack of, as in In default of a better solution, we'll have to make do with this one. This term was originally put as for default of, but John Gower had the current wording in Confessio Amantis (1397): “The fish, if it be dry, might in default of water die.” [Late 1200s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in default of

Spirit is already in default of its agreement, Citibank said, and lenders had the right to seize airline assets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

"As of December 23, 2022, Twitter remains in default of its obligations to Innisfree under the Agreement in an amount of not less than $1,902,788.03," the lawsuit said.

From Reuters ● Feb. 4, 2023

Council passed legislation that shields only those who applied by Sept. 30 and requires banks to notify homeowners in default of the HAF program.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 21, 2022

If the city does not cancel the contract within 30 days, he wrote, the team would consider Anaheim in default of the stadium lease and could ask a court to terminate the contract.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2022

Then the stage, in default of space, was divided by simple partitions, and inscriptions, indicating beyond mistake the houses, cities, and diverse countries, were more indispensable than ever.

From The Catholic World; Volume I, Issues 1-6 A Monthly Eclectic Magazine by E. Rameur