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12 dictionary results for: default
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
de·fault       [di-fawlt] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.failure to act; inaction or neglect: They lost their best client by sheer default.
2.failure to meet financial obligations.
3.Law. failure to perform an act or obligation legally required, esp. to appear in court or to plead at a time assigned.
4.Sports. failure to arrive in time for, participate in, or complete a scheduled match.
5.lack; want; absence.
6.Computers. a value that a program or operating system assumes, or a course of action that a program or operating system will take, when the user or programmer specifies no overriding value or action.
–verb (used without object)
7.to fail in fulfilling or satisfying an engagement, claim, or obligation.
8.to fail to meet financial obligations or to account properly for money in one's care: When he defaulted in his payments, the bank foreclosed on the car.
9.Law. to fail to appear in court.
10.Sports.
a.to fail to participate in or complete a match.
b.to lose a match by default.
–verb (used with object)
11.to fail to perform or pay: to default a debt.
12.to declare to be in default, esp. legally: The judge defaulted the defendant.
13.Sports.
a.to fail to compete in (a scheduled game, race, etc.).
b.to lose by default.
14.Law. to lose by failure to appear in court.
[Origin: 1175–1225; ME defau(l)te < AF defalte, OF defaute, deriv. of defaillir, after faute, faillir. See de-, fault, fail]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
de·fault       (dĭ-fôlt')  Pronunciation Key 
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.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
default 
c.1225, "failure, failure to act," from O.Fr. defaute, from M.L. defalta "a deficiency or failure," from L. dis- "away" + fallere "to be wanting." The financial sense is first recorded 1858; the computing sense is from 1966.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
default

noun
1. loss due to not showing up; "he lost the game by default" 
2. act of failing to meet a financial obligation 
3. loss resulting from failure of a debt to be paid [syn: nonpayment] [ant: payment] 
4. an option that is selected automatically unless an alternative is specified [syn: default option] 

verb
1. fail to pay up [ant: ante up] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

default

see in default of.


The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
default

Failure to pay a debt when it is due.


The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Investopedia - Cite This Source - Share This

Default

1. The failure to promptly pay interest or principal when due.

2. The failure to perform on a futures contract as required by an exchange.

Investopedia Commentary

If you can't make the monthly loan service payments then you are said to have "defaulted" on the loan.

Related Links

Bond Basics Tutorial
Corporate Bonds: An Introduction To Credit Risk
Junk Bonds: Everything You Need to Know

See also: Cross Default, Default Risk, Futures Contract, Interest, Non-Performing Loan, Principal, Whoops

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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Wallstreet Words - Cite This Source - Share This

default

The failure to live up to the terms of a contract. Generally, default is used to indicate the inability of a borrower to pay the interest or principal on a debt when it is due. See also technical default.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: de·fault
Pronunciation: di-'folt, 'dE-"folt
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French defalte defaute lack, fault, failure to answer a summons, from defaillir to be lacking, fail, from de-, intensive prefix + faillir to fail
1 : failure to do something required by duty (as under a contract or by law): as a : failure to comply with the terms of a loan agreement or security agreement esp. with regard to payment of the debt b in the civil law of Louisiana : a delay in performing under a contract that is recognized by the other party
NOTE: A party whose performance under a contract is delayed is not automatically in default. Rather, the law of Louisiana requires that the other party “put him or her in default” by a written or witnessed oral request for performance, by filing suit, or by invoking a specific provision in the contract. Moratory damages may be recoverable for loss caused by the delay.
2 : failure to defend against a claim in court (as by failing to file pleadings or to appear in court) —see also default judgment at JUDGMENT 1a —default verb —de·fault·er noun —in default : in the condition of having defaulted

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Default

De*fault"\, n. [OE. defaute, OF. defaute, defalte, fem., F. d['e]faut, masc., LL. defalta, fr. a verb meaning, to be deficient, to want, fail, fr. L. de- + fallere to deceive. See Fault.]

1. A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires; as, this evil has happened through the governor's default.

2. Fault; offense; ill deed; wrong act; failure in virtue or wisdom.

And pardon craved for his so rash default. --Spenser.

Regardless of our merit or default. --Pope.

3. (Law) A neglect of, or failure to take, some step necessary to secure the benefit of law, as a failure to appear in court at a day assigned, especially of the defendant in a suit when called to make answer; also of jurors, witnesses, etc.

In default of, in case of failure or lack of.

Cooks could make artificial birds and fishes in default of the real ones. --Arbuthnot.

To suffer a default (Law), to permit an action to be called without appearing to answer.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Default

De*fault"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Defaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Defaulting.]

1. To fail in duty; to offend.

That he gainst courtesy so foully did default. --Spenser.

2. To fail in fulfilling a contract, agreement, or duty.

3. To fail to appear in court; to let a case go by default.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Default

De*fault"\, v. t. 1. To fail to perform or pay; to be guilty of neglect of; to omit; as, to default a dividend.

What they have defaulted towards him as no king. --Milton.

2. (Law) To call a defendant or other party whose duty it is to be present in court, and make entry of his default, if he fails to appear; to enter a default against.

3. To leave out of account; to omit. [Obs.]

Defaulting unnecessary and partial discourses. --Hales.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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