Failure

/ˈfeɪ.ljə/ · noun

Meaning

State or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success..

Definitions by Sense

1. State or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success.
2. Omission to do something, whether or not it was attempted, especially something that ought to have been done.
3. An object, person or endeavour in a state of failure, has failed at something or incapable of success.
4. Termination of the ability of an item to perform its required function; breakdown.
5. Bankruptcy.

Example Sentences

For Liverpool, their season will now be regarded as a relative disappointment after failure to add the FA Cup to the Carling Cup and not mounting a challenge to reach the Champions League places.

Sarkozy's total will be seen as a personal failure. It is the first time an outgoing president has failed to win a first-round vote in the past 50 years and makes it harder for Sarkozy to regain momentum.

What exactly is a "successful failure" in rocket science? A so-called "successful failure" is one where important lessons can be gleaned for future tests and where the risks of harm are low, experts say.

Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. When a series of bank failures made this impossible, there was widespread anger, leading to the public humiliation of symbolic figures.

But as with individual train failures you have to tackle every one as it arises and assume it will happen again, which it will, if you don't do something about it.

Synonyms for failure

Antonyms for failure

Related Words

Word Forms

• failures

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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