failure

CEFRB1

/ˈfeɪ.ljə/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A lack of success in doing or achieving something.

  2. 02

    noun

    The state of not working properly.

Examples

  • Don't set your failure down to bad luck.

  • The success or failure of the plan depends on you.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Also pronounced

  • /ˈfeː.l(ɪ.)jə(r)/
  • /ˈfej.l(ɪ.)jə(r)/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Omission to do something, whether or not it was attempted, especially something that ought to have been done.

  2. State or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success.

  3. A condition in which a specified organ does not function well enough to support life.

More examples

In context

  • You should acknowledge your failure.

  • congestive heart failure

  • heart failure

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

His business blank taught him valuable lessons about risk management.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Anglo-Norman failer, from Old French faillir (“to fail”). Equivalent to fail + -ure.