Added 3 October 2026
fail
/feɪl/ verb
In Latin: dēsum, dēficiō Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about fail at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
To be unsuccessful.
Throughout my life, I have always failed.
-
Not to achieve a particular stated goal. (Usage note: The direct object of this word is usually an infinitive.)
The truck failed to start.
-
To neglect.
The report fails to take into account all the mitigating factors.
noun
- A failure, especially of a financial transaction (a termination of an action).
- A failing grade in an academic examination.
- A failure (something incapable of success).
adjective
- Unsuccessful; inadequate; unacceptable in some way.
noun
Origin
Inherited from Middle English failen, borrowed from Old French falir, from Vulgar Latin *fallire, alteration of Latin fallere (“to deceive, disappoint”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰāl- (“to lie, deceive”) or Proto-Indo-European *(s)gʷʰh₂el- (“to stumble”). Compare Alemannic German fääle (“to lack”), Cimbrian béelan, véelan (“to fail”), veln (“to be absent, missing”), Dutch falen, feilen (“to fail, miss”), German fallieren, fehlen (“to fail, miss, lack”), Danish fejle (“to fail, err”), Swedish fallera (“to fail, break, malfunction”), Spanish fallar (“to fail, miss”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)