Failure

/ˈfeɪljər/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The lack of success in doing or achieving something.

The project was a complete failure, as it did not meet any of the goals set by the team.

An event or action that does not achieve its intended purpose.

His failure to pass the exam was disappointing, but he vowed to study harder next time.

A condition of not functioning correctly.

The engine failure caused the plane to make an emergency landing.

A person or thing that is unsuccessful or disappointing.

Despite his talent, he was labeled a failure by those around him after his latest venture collapsed.

Middle English: from Old French 'failloir' meaning 'to be lacking'.

failure to launch

A situation where someone is unable to start a life or career.

fail better

The idea of learning from failures to improve future attempts.

failure is not an option

Emphasizing the importance of success over failure.

flop

A total failure, especially in entertainment.

setback

A reversal or check in progress.

collapse

A sudden failure or breakdown.

Epic fail

When he tried to impress her and fell in the mud, it was an epic fail.

Fail whale

Twitter had a fail whale moment when the site went down during peak hours.