default

noun
UK: /dɪˈfɔːlt/
US: /dɪˈfɑːlt/

  1. Failure to do something, like pay money, that you legally have to do.

    1. He will default on his loan if he doesn't find a job soon. [ ] [ ]
    2. The company risked default when sales slowed down significantly last quarter. [ ] [ ]

  2. Something that happens or is chosen if you do not do anything to change it.

    1. The default setting is for the alarm to sound at 7 AM. [ ] [ ]
    2. Many computer programs have a default setting that can be changed to suit the user's needs. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

omission failure fallback
default verb

  1. To fail to do something that you legally have to do, especially paying money.

    1. He defaulted on his loan payments last month. [ ] [ ]
    2. If you default on your mortgage, the bank may take your house. [ ] [ ]
default adjective

  1. Used to describe something that happens or is chosen if nothing else is done or available.

    1. The default option is to accept all cookies. [ ] [ ]
    2. The system uses a default password, which users should change immediately. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "default" in English means: Failure to do something, like pay money, that you legally have to do., Something that happens or is chosen if you do not do anything to change it..

The phonetic transcription of "default" is /dɪˈfɔːlt/ in British English and /dɪˈfɑːlt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "default": omission, failure, fallback.

Example usage of "default": "He will default on his loan if he doesn't find a job soon.". More examples on the page.