failure

noun
UK: /ˈfeɪ.ljər/
US: /ˈfeɪ.ljɚ/

  1. The state or condition of not succeeding; lack of success.

    1. The project was a complete failure. [ ] [ ]
    2. His consistent failures led to a deep sense of discouragement and resignation. [ ] [ ]

  2. An instance of not succeeding; a specific unsuccessful attempt or outcome.

    1. This exam was my first failure. [ ] [ ]
    2. The repeated failures of the negotiations highlighted the deep-seated disagreements between the parties. [ ] [ ]

  3. A person or thing that has not succeeded.

    1. He felt like a failure after losing his job. [ ] [ ]
    2. The old bridge was deemed a failure due to its structural weaknesses and inability to handle modern traffic. [ ] [ ]

  4. The omission of something required or expected; neglect.

    1. His failure to pay rent resulted in eviction. [ ] [ ]
    2. The system's failure to detect the intrusion left the network vulnerable to attack. [ ] [ ]

  5. A decline in strength or effectiveness; weakening.

    1. The patient experienced kidney failure. [ ] [ ]
    2. Economic failure caused widespread poverty and social unrest throughout the region. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

defeat decline omission botch collapse fiasco breakdown deficiency
failure verb

  1. To be unsuccessful in achieving a goal.

    1. I failed my driving test last week. [ ] [ ]
    2. The company failed to adapt to the changing market conditions, leading to significant losses. [ ] [ ]

  2. To neglect to do something.

    1. He failed to inform me about the meeting. [ ] [ ]
    2. The government failed to provide adequate support to the victims of the disaster. [ ] [ ]

  3. To stop working or functioning correctly.

    1. The car engine failed on the highway. [ ] [ ]
    2. The outdated equipment failed to meet the demands of the increasing workload, causing delays. [ ] [ ]

  4. To give a failing grade to someone.

    1. The teacher failed him in math. [ ] [ ]
    2. The professor failed several students who did not meet the minimum requirements for the course. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "failure" in English means: The state or condition of not succeeding; lack of success., An instance of not succeeding; a specific unsuccessful attempt or outcome., A person or thing that has not succeeded., The omission of something required or expected; neglect., A decline in strength or effectiveness; weakening..

The phonetic transcription of "failure" is /ˈfeɪ.ljər/ in British English and /ˈfeɪ.ljɚ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "failure": defeat, decline, omission, botch, collapse, fiasco, breakdown, deficiency.

Example usage of "failure": "The project was a complete failure.". More examples on the page.