failure

English Online Dictionary. What means failure‎? What does failure mean?

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman failer, from Old French faillir (“to fail”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈfeɪ.ljə/
• (Canada, General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfeɪ.ljɚ/

Noun

failure (countable and uncountable, plural failures)

1. State or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success.
   1. (pathology) A condition in which a specified organ does not function well enough to support life.

      heart failure

      congestive heart failure

      liver failure

      kidney failure

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 or incapable of success.
4. Termination of the ability of an item to perform its required function; breakdown.
5. Bankruptcy.

Synonyms

• (opposite of success): fail (noun)
• (person incapable of success): loser

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of "state or condition"): success, triumph

Hyponyms

• dam failure, failure to launch, failure to thrive, ground failure, market failure, power failure, single-point failure, structural failure

Derived terms

Related terms

• fail (verb), fail-fast, fail-safe, fail-stop

Translations