failover
n.n. a backup system that starts working automatically if the main system stops. It helps keep websites or services running without any breaks.
n. a method of protecting computer systems from failure by automatically switching to a standby database, server, or network if the primary one becomes unavailable.
The system has a failover to prevent data loss.
During the power outage, the automatic failover to the secondary server ensured that the website remained online for all users.
Engineers implemented a multi-region failover strategy to maintain high availability even in the event of a catastrophic failure at the primary data center.
A compound formed from the verb fail and the adverb over. It follows the pattern of established technical phrasal nouns such as switchover and rollover.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often used as a modifier before another noun, such as 'failover mechanism' or 'failover site'.
Last updated July 22, 2026