/ ˈfeɪljə(r); NAmE / noun
NOT SUCCESSFUL
1.
[ U ] lack of success in doing or achieving sth :
The success or failure of the plan depends on you.
The attempt was doomed to failure .
All my efforts ended in failure .
the problems of economic failure and increasing unemployment
She is still coming to terms with the failure of her marriage.
OPP success
2.
[ C ] a person or thing that is not successful :
The whole thing was a complete failure.
He was a failure as a teacher.
OPP success
NOT DOING STH
3.
[ U , C ] failure to do sth an act of not doing sth, especially sth that you are expected to do :
the failure of the United Nations to maintain food supplies
Failure to comply with the regulations will result in prosecution.
OF MACHINE / PART OF BODY
4.
[ U , C ] the state of not working correctly or as expected; an occasion when this happens :
patients suffering from heart / kidney, etc. failure
A power failure plunged everything into darkness.
The cause of the crash was given as engine failure.
OF BUSINESS
5.
[ C , U ] business ~ a situation in which a business has to close because it is not successful
OF CROP / HARVEST
6.
[ U , C ] crop / harvest ~ a situation in which crops do not grow correctly and do not produce food
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent. (originally as failer , in the senses non-occurrence and stopping of supply ): from Anglo-Norman French failer for Old French faillir , based on Latin fallere deceive.