failure
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a situation where you do not reach a goal or get the result you wanted.
the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective; the opposite of success.
Simple“The project ended in failure because the team did not have enough time.”
In context“The company's latest product was a commercial failure, largely due to poor timing and a lack of market research.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
someone or something that is not successful.
an entity, person, or endeavour that has failed or is perceived as incapable of achieving success.
Simple“He felt like a failure after he didn't get into the university he wanted.”
In context“The critics dismissed the play as a total failure, though the lead actor's performance was widely praised.”
Synonymsdisappointmentwashout - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
when a machine, a system, or a part of the body stops working correctly.
the termination of the ability of an item or organ to perform its required function.
Simple“The car stopped on the highway due to an engine failure.”
In context“The patient was rushed to the hospital suffering from acute heart failure after the marathon.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
not doing something that you were expected or supposed to do.
the omission of an expected or required action, particularly a legal or professional obligation.
Simple“His failure to pay the bill on time resulted in a late fee.”
In context“The board's failure to disclose the financial risks led to a series of lawsuits from angry shareholders.”
UsageOften followed by an infinitive, as in 'failure to comply'.
Antonyms
Usage failure to comply · cause failure · explain failure
“The agency has not yet determined the root cause of the failure.”
“For some, these episodes point to clear security failures on the part of AI companies leading the charge on this game-changing, era-defining tech.”
From Anglo-Norman failer, from Old French faillir (“to fail”). Equivalent to fail + -ure.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.