51Թ

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View synonyms for

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

/ ˈڱɪə /

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ԴDz·ڲu noun
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51Թ 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
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

They were entertaining, they were intriguing and they were a failure.

From

Stacey said that before her latest surgery in November, her urologist had told her she had probably been suffering from kidney failure for six months.

From

To many citizens, democracy had failed – and the failure seemed especially acute to students, whose views on the war had evolved way ahead of overall opinion.

From

The Vietnam War is a reminder that failure to address ecological consequences, both during war and after, will have long-term effects.

From

A mental health trust has admitted its failure in the care of a 16-year-old inpatient led to her death.

From

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