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In default of

 - 2 dictionary results
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de·fault   (dĭ-fôlt')   
n.  

  1. Failure to perform a task or fulfill an obligation, especially failure to meet a financial obligation: in default on a loan.

  2. Law Failure to make a required court appearance.

  3. The failure of one or more competitors or teams to participate in a contest: won the championship by default.

    1. Computer Science A particular setting or value for a variable that is assigned automatically by an operating system and remains in effect unless canceled or overridden by the operator: changed the default for the font in the word processing program.

    2. A situation or condition that obtains in the absence of active intervention.

v.   de·fault·ed, de·fault·ing, de·faults

v.   intr.

    1. To fail to do what is required.

    2. To fail to pay money when it is due.

    3. To fail to appear in court when summoned.

    4. To lose a case by not appearing.

  2. Law

    1. To fail to appear in court when summoned.

    2. To lose a case by not appearing.

  3. To fail to take part in or complete a scheduled contest.

v.   tr.

  1. To fail to perform or pay.

  2. Law To lose (a case) by failing to appear in court.

  3. To fail to take part in or complete (a contest, for example).


[Middle English defaute, from Old French, from past participle of defaillir, to fail, grow weak : de-, intensive pref.; see de- + faillir; see fail.]
de·fault'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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The Default Solution
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Idioms & Phrases

in default of

Through the failure, absence, or lack of, as in In default of a better solution, we'll have to make do with this one. This term was originally put as for default of, but John Gower had the current wording in Confessio Amantis (1397): "The fish, if it be dry, might in default of water die." [Late 1200s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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