default
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the way a computer or program is set up to work if you do not change anything yourself.
n.a preselected option or setting adopted by a computer program or other mechanism when no alternative is specified by the user.
Simple“The default font for this word processor is Calibri, but I prefer Arial.”
In context“If the user fails to specify a destination folder, the application will save all exported files to the default directory automatically.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.the failure to pay back a loan or do what you legally agreed to do.
n.the failure to fulfill a legal or financial obligation, such as repaying a loan or appearing in a court of law.
Simple“The company is in default because they missed three months of loan payments.”
In context“The sovereign default sent shockwaves through the international markets, leading to a sharp increase in borrowing costs for neighboring economies.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
v.to fail to pay a debt or fulfill an agreement.
v.to fail to satisfy a debt or meet the terms of a contract. Intransitive, often taking the preposition 'on'.
Simple“If you default on your mortgage, the bank might take your house.”
In context“Small businesses are more likely to default on their credit lines during a sudden economic downturn when cash flow becomes unpredictable.”
UsageUsually used with the preposition 'on' followed by the obligation.
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to automatically go back to a standard setting.
v.to revert automatically to a preselected option or setting when no other instruction is given.
Simple“The screen brightness will default to fifty percent when the battery is low.”
In context“The system is programmed to default to the secure server if the primary connection is interrupted for more than ten seconds.”
UsageOften takes the preposition 'to'.
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.used to describe something that happens or is chosen automatically.
adj.functioning as the preset or automatic selection in the absence of a specific alternative.
Simple“Checking your phone has become the default behavior for people waiting in line.”
In context“In many modern offices, the default assumption is that meetings will be held virtually unless a physical room is specifically requested.”
“Twitch's chief product officer Mike Minton, said it was "respecting" users by letting them opt out but on why data was collected by default, he admitted: "If it's opt-in, nobody would opt-in.”
“It means that from September AI-generated artists such as the Velvet Sundown will carry the persona label and will be blocked from personalised recommendations by default.”
From Middle English defaut, defaute, from Old French defaute (“fault, defect, failure, culpability, lack”), ultimately from Latin de- (“away”) + fallo (“deceive, cheat, escape notice of”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.