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   Fail·ure

   /ˈfālyər/

   

   noun

   • 1. lack of success: "an economic policy that is doomed to failure" Similar lack of successnonsuccessnon-fulfillmentabortionmiscarriagedefeatfrustrationcollapsefounderingmisfiringcoming to nothingfalling throughinformal:fizzling outfiascodebaclecatastrophedisasterblundervain attemptabortiondefeatdamp squibinformal:flopbotchhashfoul-upscrewupwashoutletdowndead lossdead ducklead balloonlemonfailcock-uppig's earsnafuclinkervulgar slang:fuck-upballs-upOpposite successsuccess
   • ▪ an unsuccessful person, enterprise, or thing: "bad weather had resulted in crop failures" Similar loserborn loserincompetentnonachieverunderachieverne'er-do-welldisappointmentwrite-offno onenobodyinformal:no-hoperflopdudnonstarterwashoutdead losslemoninadequacyinsufficiencydeficiencylackdearthscarcityshortfallOpposite success
   • 2. the omission of expected or required action: "their failure to comply with the basic rules" Similar negligenceremissnessnonobservancenonperformancederelictionomissionneglectoversight
   • ▪ a lack or deficiency of a desirable quality: "a failure of imagination"
   • 3. the action or state of not functioning: "symptoms of heart failure" Similar breaking downbreakdownnonfunctioncutting outseizing upmalfunctionfaultinesscrashinformal:conking outplaying up
   • ▪ a sudden cessation of power: "a sudden power failure" Similar breaking downbreakdownnonfunctioncutting outseizing upmalfunctionfaultinesscrashinformal:conking outplaying up
   • ▪ the collapse of a business: "business failures rose by 53%" Similar collapsecrashgoing underbankruptcyinsolvencyliquidationclose-downclosureclosingshutting downwinding upterminationdeclinefailingfounderingsinkingruinruinationinformal:foldingflopOpposite success

   Word Origin mid 17th century (originally as failer, in the senses ‘non-occurrence’ and ‘cessation of supply’): from Anglo-Norman French failer for Old French faillir (see fail).

   Scrabble Points: 10

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