failure
English meaning: Failure
Definition
State or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success.
Example
“The launch was a failure, and the rocket never left the ground.”
Another example: “His failure to reply on time cost the company the contract.”
Usage — When, Where & How
The state of not succeeding, or a person/thing that fails ('business failure', 'heart failure', 'a complete failure'). Everyday to formal; also technical in medicine and engineering. Often followed by 'to' + verb.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Anglo-Norman 'failer', from Latin 'fallere' 'to deceive, disappoint'; the noun spelling settled in the 17th century.
Synonyms
- collapse
- breakdown
- defeat
- fiasco
- flop
Antonyms / Opposites
- success
- achievement
- triumph
- accomplishment
Related Words
Common Collocations
- complete failure
- business failure
- heart failure
- power failure
- failure to comply
Word Forms
fail (v); failed; failing; failure (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B