What does failure mean?
Failure is a noun denoting the absence of success: an outcome in which someone or something does not achieve what was attempted or expected. It covers a broad range of situations, from personal endeavors that fall short, to mechanical or bodily systems that stop working (an engine failure, heart failure), to the neglect of a duty or obligation (failure to pay). The word can also describe a person judged to be unsuccessful, a usage that carries a heavy emotional charge and should be handled with care. In everyday speech, failure is common in fixed pairings such as power failure and crop failure, where it simply signals a breakdown rather than a moral verdict. Its opposite is success, though in practice the boundary between the two is often blurred by persistence and revision. The word entered English in the early seventeenth century, derived from fail.
The lack of success in achieving or doing something.
"Her first business venture ended in failure, but her second flourished."
Often used in the phrases "end in failure" or "meet with failure."
A person or thing that is unsuccessful or does not perform as intended.
"Critics dismissed the film as a box-office failure."
A breakdown or cessation of functioning, as of a machine, system, or organ.
"The bridge collapsed after a catastrophic structural failure."
An omission of an expected or required action.
"His failure to respond to the summons led to a warrant being issued."
Used when referring to multiple instances of unsuccessful attempts, unsuccessful people/things, or breakdowns.
"Every one of his failures taught him something valuable about the market."
The English word "failure" didn't exist until the early 1600s — for most of history, people simply spoke of things that "fell short" or came to naught.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of failure
Failure derives from the verb fail, which came into Middle English from Old French faillir, itself descended from Latin fallere, meaning "to deceive" or "to disappoint." The noun form appeared in English in the early seventeenth century, first in legal contexts before spreading into general use. The Latin root fallere also gives English words such as fallacy, false, and fault, making them distant relatives of failure through a shared sense of falling short or deceiving expectations.
Related word forms
How failure is actually used
"Failure" carries a strongly negative connotation and can sound harsh when applied to people — describing someone as "a failure" is a serious judgment. In technical, medical, or engineering contexts (engine failure, kidney failure), the word is neutral and descriptive. It is standard in both British and American English with no regional variation.
Easily confused with failure
"Failure" refers to a lack of success or an unsuccessful person/thing, while "failing" (usually plural) means a personal weakness or flaw.
"Frailty" denotes physical or moral weakness or fragility, whereas "failure" denotes lack of success or breakdown in function.