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failure

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fail⋅ure

  [feyl-yer]
Use failure in a Sentence
–noun
1. an act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success: His effort ended in failure. The campaign was a failure.
2. nonperformance of something due, required, or expected: a failure to do what one has promised; a failure to appear.
3. a subnormal quantity or quality; an insufficiency: the failure of crops.
4. deterioration or decay, esp. of vigor, strength, etc.: The failure of her health made retirement necessary.
5. a condition of being bankrupt by reason of insolvency.
6. a becoming insolvent or bankrupt: the failure of a bank.
7. a person or thing that proves unsuccessful: He is a failure in his career. The cake is a failure.
Origin:
1635–45; fail + -ure; r. failer a (de)fault < AF (n. use of inf.), for OF faillir
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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fail·ure   (fāl'yər)   
n.  

  1. The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends: the failure of an experiment.

  2. One that fails: a failure at one's career.

  3. The condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short: a crop failure.

  4. A cessation of proper functioning or performance: a power failure.

  5. Nonperformance of what is requested or expected; omission: failure to report a change of address.

  6. The act or fact of failing to pass a course, test, or assignment.

  7. A decline in strength or effectiveness.

  8. The act or fact of becoming bankrupt or insolvent.


[Alteration of failer, default, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French faillir, to fail; see fail.]
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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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: fail·ure
Function: noun
1 : omission of occurrence or performance; specifically : a failing to perform a duty or expected action failure to mitigate damages> <failure to prosecute>
2 : a lack of success or adequacy <failure of a suit>
3 : a failing in business
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: fail·ure
Pronunciation: 'fA(&)l-y&r
Function: noun
: a state of inability to perform a vital function failure> failure> —see HEART FAILURE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

failure fail·ure (fāl'yər)
n.
The inability to function or perform satisfactorily.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Computing Dictionary

failure
The inability of a system or system component to perform a required function within specified limits. A failure may be produced when a fault is encountered.
(1996-05-13)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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