I. də̇ˈfȯlt, dēˈ- sometimes ˈdēˌf- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English defaulte, alteration (influenced by Anglo-French defaulte, alteration — probably influenced by Old French defaillir to be lacking, fail, from assumed Vulgar Latin defallire — of Old French defaute ) of defaute, from Old French, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin defallita, from feminine of defallitus, past participle of (assumed) Vulgar Latin defallire to be lacking, fail, from Latin de- + (assumed) Vulgar Latin fallire to deceive, fail — more at fail
1. : the absence of something needed : lack , want
2. : failure to do something required by duty or law : negligence , neglect
a position of advantage lost by mere default
3. archaic : fault: as
a. : wrongdoing , offense , misdeed
pardon our defaults
b. : error , imperfection , flaw , blemish
4. : a failure to pay financial debts
salesmen sometimes oversell their prospects thereby laying the ground for later defaults — H.E.Hoagland
default of his loan terms
5. : the failure of a defendant or plaintiff to appear at the required time to defend or prosecute an action or proceeding as a result of which a plaintiff may be nonsuited or a defendant may have judgment rendered against him — often used. with in
the defendant has made no appearance in the case, and is in default
— see judgment by default
6. : failure to compete in or to finish an appointed contest
lose a race by default
Synonyms: see failure
•
- in default of
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by default ) (I) of Middle English defauten, from defaute, n.
intransitive verb
: to fail to fulfill a contract or agreement, to accept a responsibility, or to perform a duty: as
a. : to fail to meet a financial obligation
b. : to fail to appear in court : let a case go by default
c. : to fail to compete in or to finish an appointed contest, especially an athletic contest ; also : to forfeit a contest by such failure
transitive verb
1. : to fail to perform, pay, or make good
default a loan
: omit
default a dividend
2. : to call (a defendant or other person whose duty it is to be present in court) and make entry of default for failure to appear : enter a default against
3.
a. : to fail to compete in or to finish (an appointed contest)
b. : to forfeit (a contest) by such failure
c. : to exclude (a player or team) from a contest by default
III. intransitive verb
: to make an automatic selection especially in the absence of a choice by a user
since the computer's operating system won't accept such a year, it will default to some other date — S.J.Goldman
IV. noun
1. : the absence of a viable alternative — usually used with by
letting the multinationals act as our national planners by default — R.J.Barnet
2. : a selection automatically used by a computer program in the absence of a choice made by the user