# default

/dɪˈfɔɫt/ (US) · /dɪfˈɒlt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/default
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. standard settings

noun · CEFR B2

the way a computer or program is set up to work if you do not change anything yourself.

For teachers: a preselected option or setting adopted by a computer program or other mechanism when no alternative is specified by the user.

- The default font for this word processor is Calibri, but I prefer Arial.
- If the user fails to specify a destination folder, the application will save all exported files to the default directory automatically.

### 2. failure to pay

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the failure to pay back a loan or do what you legally agreed to do.

For teachers: the failure to fulfill a legal or financial obligation, such as repaying a loan or appearing in a court of law.

- The company is in default because they missed three months of loan payments.
- The sovereign default sent shockwaves through the international markets, leading to a sharp increase in borrowing costs for neighboring economies.

### 3. to fail to pay

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to fail to pay a debt or fulfill an agreement.

For teachers: to fail to satisfy a debt or meet the terms of a contract. Intransitive, often taking the preposition 'on'.

- If you default on your mortgage, the bank might take your house.
- Small businesses are more likely to default on their credit lines during a sudden economic downturn when cash flow becomes unpredictable.

Usage: Usually used with the preposition 'on' followed by the obligation.

### 4. to revert to a preset

verb · CEFR B2

to automatically go back to a standard setting.

For teachers: to revert automatically to a preselected option or setting when no other instruction is given.

- The screen brightness will default to fifty percent when the battery is low.
- The system is programmed to default to the secure server if the primary connection is interrupted for more than ten seconds.

Usage: Often takes the preposition 'to'.

### 5. standard or automatic

adjective · CEFR B2

used to describe something that happens or is chosen automatically.

For teachers: functioning as the preset or automatic selection in the absence of a specific alternative.

- Checking your phone has become the default behavior for people waiting in line.
- In many modern offices, the default assumption is that meetings will be held virtually unless a physical room is specifically requested.

## Examples

- The default font for this document is Arial.
- If you do not change your privacy settings, the system uses the default options which share your location with friends.
- The sudden increase in interest rates led to a wave of mortgage defaults, forcing the bank to re-evaluate its lending criteria for first-time buyers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.