What does "failure" mean?
State or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success.
Failure
/ˈfeɪ.ljɚ/ noun
noun ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: State or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success.
- Grammar: failure is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: aborts, also ran, also-ran, antimasque.
- Useful contrasts: academic achievements, astonishing feat, boffo.
- Usage evidence: Don't set your failure down to bad luck.
How to use "failure"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "failure" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "failure" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "failure" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "failure" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "failure" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aborts" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "failure", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 State or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success. countable, uncountable
"For Liverpool, their season will now be regarded as a relative disappointment after failure to add the FA Cup to the Carling Cup and not mounting a challenge to reach the Champions League places."
- 2 an unexpected omission wordnet
- 3 State or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success.; A condition in which a specified organ does not function well enough to support life. countable, uncountable
"heart failure"
- 4 an act that fails wordnet
- 5 Omission to do something, whether or not it was attempted, especially something that ought to have been done. countable, uncountable
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose wordnet
- 7 An object, person or endeavour in a state of failure, has failed at something or incapable of success. countable, uncountable
- 8 a person with a record of failing; someone who loses consistently wordnet
- 9 Termination of the ability of an item to perform its required function; breakdown. countable, uncountable
"Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. When a series of bank failures made this impossible, there was widespread anger, leading to the public humiliation of symbolic figures."
- 10 loss of ability to function normally wordnet
- 11 Bankruptcy. countable, uncountable
- 12 lack of success wordnet
- 13 inability to discharge all your debts as they come due wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Don't set your failure down to bad luck."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "failure"?
Common synonyms include: aborts, also ran, also-ran, antimasque, arrear, arrearage.
How do you use "failure" in a sentence?
Don't set your failure down to bad luck.
How do you pronounce "failure"?
Pronounced /ˈfeɪ.ljɚ/.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman failer, from Old French faillir (“to fail”). Equivalent to fail + -ure.