■ noun
1》 failure to fulfil an obligation, especially to repay a loan or appear in a law court.
2》 a preselected option adopted by a computer program or other mechanism when no alternative is specified.
■ verb
1》 fail to fulfil an obligation: some had ~ed on student loans.
↘declare (a party) in ~ and give judgement against that party.
2》 ( ~ to ) revert automatically to (a preselected option).
Phrases
by ~ because of a lack of opposition or positive action: he became an actor by ~.
go by ~ (of a case) be decided in favour of one party because of lack of opposition by the other party.
in ~ guilty of ~.
in ~ of in the absence of.
Origin
ME: from OFr. defaut , from defaillir 'to fail', based on L. fallere 'disappoint, deceive'.