failure

failure — noun

1. a situation where a person or group misses a goal they aimed for, or a plan that

1.nounB1
Definition

a situation where a person or group misses a goal they aimed for, or a plan that does not deliver the result it was expected to

Example

After three attempts, Dario accepted his failure to pass the driving test.

failure + to-infinitive

The team's repeated failures in the tournament led to a change of coach.

collocation: repeated failures

Common collocations
  • fear of failure
  • failure rate
  • failure in [area]
  • end in failure
  • admit failure
Synonyms
  • lack of success

    more literal and formal; describes the outcome without judgment

  • defeat

    specifically about losing in a competition, contest, or battle

  • setback

    a temporary failure that does not mean total loss; milder in connotation

Antonyms
  • success

    the opposite — achieving a desired goal

Grammar Patterns

failure + to-infinitive

failure + in + noun/gerund

adjective + failure

Usage Note

Countable when referring to a specific unsuccessful attempt (e.g. 'the experiment was a failure'); uncountable when speaking about the abstract concept (e.g. 'fear of failure').

Common Mistakes

His failure for the exam upset him.
His failure in the exam upset him.
use 'in' not 'for' when naming the area where success was missed.
The project was a fail.
The project was a failure.
'fail' is a verb; the noun form is 'failure'.

2. an occasion when someone does not carry out a task, follow a rule, or meet an ob

2.nounB2
Definition

an occasion when someone does not carry out a task, follow a rule, or meet an obligation — especially when this causes harm or problems to others

Example

Gabriel's failure to report the accident resulted in a heavy fine.

failure + to-infinitive (legal duty)

The company faced legal action over its failure to ensure worker safety at the factory.

Common collocations
  • failure to comply
  • failure to act
  • failure to report
  • failure to pay
Synonyms
  • neglect

    stronger — implies carelessness or intentional disregard

  • omission

    more neutral; describes the fact of leaving something undone

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

failure + to-infinitive

someone's failure + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Commonly followed by 'to + infinitive' to specify the omitted action. This sense is typically uncountable and used in formal, legal, or regulatory contexts to describe a breach of responsibility.

Common Mistakes

His failure of paying the fine was a mistake.
His failure to pay the fine was a mistake.
always use 'to + infinitive', never 'of + gerund'.

3. a situation in which a machine, system, or part of the body stops working correc

3.nounB1
Definition

a situation in which a machine, system, or part of the body stops working correctly or stops working altogether

Example

The plane crash was caused by an engine failure shortly after takeoff.

engine failure

Power failures during the storm left thousands of homes without electricity for days.

power failure

Common collocations
  • engine failure
  • power failure
  • heart failure
  • system failure
  • mechanical failure
Synonyms
  • breakdown

    usually refers to vehicles or machines stopping suddenly

  • malfunction

    suggests the thing works but not as intended, rather than stopping completely

  • crash

    reserved for computers and software stopping unexpectedly

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

noun + failure

failure + of + noun

Usage Note

Countable when describing a specific breakdown event (e.g. 'engine failure'); uncountable when referring to the general condition (e.g. 'kidney failure'). In medical contexts, 'heart failure' / 'kidney failure' are uncountable and describe a chronic condition.

Common Mistakes

The computer had a fail.
The computer had a failure.
'failure' is the noun form; 'fail' is only a verb.

4. someone or something regarded as not having achieved what people expected, a lab

4.nounA2
Definition

someone or something regarded as not having achieved what people expected, a label that often carries a strong negative judgment

Example

At school, Mateo was labelled a failure by his teachers because of his low grades.

After two failed businesses, Folake began to see herself as a failure despite her efforts.

see oneself as a failure

Common collocations
  • a complete failure
  • a total failure
  • feel like a failure
  • label someone a failure
  • commercial failure
Synonyms
  • underachiever

    less harsh; suggests the person could have done better but did not try hard enough

  • flop

    informal; used mainly for creative works like films, plays, or products

  • disappointment

    focuses on others' feelings rather than the person's own qualities

Antonyms
  • success

    a person or thing that achieves the expected result

Grammar Patterns

a + adjective + failure

regard/view + someone/something + as a failure

Usage Note

Strongly subjective and often hurtful when applied to a person — calling someone 'a failure' is a harsh judgment on their whole character, not just a specific outcome. Use with care in teaching contexts. The word can also apply to products, projects, or events.

Common Mistakes

He is a failure person.
He is a failure.
'failure' already functions as a noun; do not add 'person' after it.

5. the closing down of a company or organization because it has run out of money or

5.nounB2
Definition

the closing down of a company or organization because it has run out of money or can no longer attract enough customers to stay in business

Example

The failure of several local banks caused widespread panic in the farming community.

failure of [business entity]

Many small shops face failure when a large supermarket opens nearby.

face failure

Common collocations
  • business failure
  • bank failure
  • crop failure
  • the failure of [business]
  • face failure
Synonyms
  • bankruptcy

    a specific legal status where debts cannot be paid; narrower than failure

  • collapse

    suggests a sudden and dramatic end

  • closure

    neutral; can be voluntary or forced, not necessarily due to financial trouble

Antonyms
  • success

    a business that stays profitable and continues operating

Grammar Patterns

the failure of + [business entity]

face failure

Usage Note

Often interchangeable with 'bankruptcy' but broader in scope — failure can describe closure from running out of customers, losing a key contract, or poor management, not solely from being unable to pay debts. Used in business and economics contexts.

Common Mistakes

The company went to failure.
The company ended in failure.' or 'The company faced failure.
do not use 'go to failure'; use 'end in failure' or 'face failure'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words describe outcomes that fall short of expectations, but they differ in scope and intensity. 'Failure' is the broadest and most neutral — it applies to anything that does not achieve its aim, from a failed exam to a collapsed bridge. 'Defeat' is narrower, used primarily for competitive situations such as games, elections, or military battles. 'Disappointment' shifts the focus to the emotional reaction of the person hoping for a better result, and can describe outcomes that merely fell short rather than completely failed. 'Flop' is highly informal and mostly reserved for creative or commercial products — films, albums, or products that nobody bought or enjoyed. 'Setback' is the mildest: a temporary obstacle that delays progress but does not end it. For example: 'The product launch was a total flop and the company recalled it' versus 'Losing that client was a setback, but we recovered the next quarter.'

failure ↗defeat ↗disappointment ↗flopsetback ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • fear of failure
  • risk of failure
  • rate of failure
  • sense of failure
  • history of failure

Prepositions

Etymology

Anglo-FrenchFrenchEnglish

'Failure' entered English in the 1600s from the Anglo-French word 'failer', meaning 'to fail' or 'to be lacking', combined with the suffix '-ure' (which turns verbs into nouns, like 'departure' from 'depart'). Before 'failure' became common, English speakers used 'failing' for the same idea. The modern spelling and usage were influenced by the French noun 'faillite' (bankruptcy).