noun · verb · 19 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/dɪˈfɒlt/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈdiːˌfɒlt/
Received-Pronunciation:/dɪˈfɔːlt/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈdiːˌfɔːlt/
General-American:/dɪˈfɔlt/
General-American:/ˈdiːˌfɔlt/
cot-caught-merger:/dɪˈfɑlt/
cot-caught-merger:/ˈdiːˌfɑlt/
Ireland:/dəˈfɒːlt/
[dəˈfäl]Dublin
[dəˈfälʔ]Dublin
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɒlt
rhymes with -ɔːlt
CMU ARPABET:D IH0 F AO1 L T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The condition of failing to meet an obligation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: business, finance
Examples
He failed to make payments on time, and he is now in default.
You may cure this default by paying the full amount within a week.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The condition of being an obligation that has not been met.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: business, finance
Examples
The deadline has passed, so the debt is now in default.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
the original software programming settings as set by the factory
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
an option that is selected automatically unless an alternative is specified
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: default option
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: option, alternative, choice
17
noun
Meaning 17
loss resulting from failure of a debt to be paid
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: nonpayment, nonremittal
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: financial loss
Narrower terms: delinquency
18
noun
Meaning 18
act of failing to meet a financial obligation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: nonpayment, nonremittal
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: failure
19
verb
Meaning 19
fail to pay up
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: default on
Antonyms: pay up
Broader terms: fail, neglect
History
Etymology
From Middle English defaut, defaute, from Old French defaute (“fault, defect, failure, culpability, lack”), ultimately from Latin de- (“away”) + fallo (“deceive, cheat, escape notice of”).
Across languages
Translations
152 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
дэфо́лт
(defólt)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Bulgarian:
неустойка
(neustojka)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Bulgarian:
неизпълнение
(neizpǎlnenie)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Bulgarian:
дефо́лт
(defólt)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Chinese Mandarin:
違約 /违约
(wéiyuē)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Chinese Mandarin:
暴雷
(bàoléi)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Czech:
selhání
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Dutch:
niet-nakoming
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Estonian:
viivitus
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Finnish:
maksukyvyttömyys
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Finnish:
laiminlyönti
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
French:
défaut
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
French:
non-respect
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
German:
Fristversäumnis
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
German:
Säumnis
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
German:
Zahlungseinstellung
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
German:
Zahlungsverzug
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
German:
Nichtzahlung
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
German:
Zahlungsausfall
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
German:
Forderungsausfall
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Hindi:
व्यतिक्रम
(vyatikram)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Hungarian:
mulasztás
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Icelandic:
greiðsluþrot
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Italian:
mora
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Italian:
morosità
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Italian:
default
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Italian:
inadempienza
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Japanese:
デフォルト
(deforuto)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Kazakh:
дефолт
(defolt)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Korean:
디폴트
(dipolteu)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Māori:
hapanga
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Polish:
nieuiszczenie należności
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Portuguese:
inadimplência
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Russian:
дефо́лт
(defólt)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Russian:
неплатёж
(neplatjóž)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Sicilian:
scunchiuta
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Sicilian:
scucchiata
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Sicilian:
scusuta
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Spanish:
mora
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Spanish:
default
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Swedish:
betalningsinställelse
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Turkish:
temerrüt
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Ukrainian:
дефо́лт
(defólt)
— finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation
Armenian:
լռելյայն
(lṙelyayn)
— electronics, computing: original settings
Armenian:
սկզբնադիր
(skzbnadir)
— electronics, computing: original settings
Chinese Mandarin:
初始設定 /初始设定
— electronics, computing: original settings
Danish:
standard
— electronics, computing: original settings
Esperanto:
defaŭlto
— electronics, computing: original settings
Finnish:
oletus
— electronics, computing: original settings
French:
paramètres par défaut
— electronics, computing: original settings
French:
paramètres usine
— electronics, computing: original settings
German:
Werkseinstellung
— electronics, computing: original settings
German:
Originaleinstellungen
— electronics, computing: original settings
German:
Standardeinstellung
— electronics, computing: original settings
German:
Standardeinstellungen
— electronics, computing: original settings
German:
Voreinstellung
— electronics, computing: original settings
German:
Grundzustand
— electronics, computing: original settings
Greek:
προεπιλογή
(proepilogí)
— electronics, computing: original settings
Greek:
προεπιλεγμένος
(proepilegménos)
— electronics, computing: original settings
Hebrew:
ברירת מחדל
— electronics, computing: original settings
Hungarian:
alapértelmezés
— electronics, computing: original settings
Hungarian:
alapbeállítás
— electronics, computing: original settings
Hungarian:
gyári beállítás
— electronics, computing: original settings
Icelandic:
sjálfgildi
— electronics, computing: original settings
Indonesian:
bawaan
— electronics, computing: original settings
Indonesian:
asali
— electronics, computing: original settings
Japanese:
デフォルト
(deforuto)
— electronics, computing: original settings
Malay:
lalai
— electronics, computing: original settings
Māori:
taunoa
— electronics, computing: original settings
Norwegian Bokmål:
standard
— electronics, computing: original settings
Norwegian Bokmål:
standardinnstilling
— electronics, computing: original settings
Norwegian Bokmål:
default
— electronics, computing: original settings
Norwegian Bokmål:
defaultverdi
— electronics, computing: original settings
Portuguese:
configuração inicial
— electronics, computing: original settings
Portuguese:
default
— electronics, computing: original settings
Portuguese:
configuração padrão
— electronics, computing: original settings
Portuguese:
predefinição
— electronics, computing: original settings
Portuguese:
predeterminado
— electronics, computing: original settings
Russian:
по умолчанию
(po umolčaniju)
— electronics, computing: original settings
Sicilian:
mposti
— electronics, computing: original settings
Sicilian:
mpustazziuna di partenza
— electronics, computing: original settings
Spanish:
preconfiguración
— electronics, computing: original settings
Swedish:
standard
— electronics, computing: original settings
Swedish:
standardinställningar
— electronics, computing: original settings
Swedish:
standardalternativ
— electronics, computing: original settings
Swedish:
standardinställning
— electronics, computing: original settings
Swedish:
skönsvärde
— electronics, computing: original settings
Turkish:
standart
— electronics, computing: original settings
Turkish:
varsayılan
— electronics, computing: original settings
Turkmen:
standart
— electronics, computing: original settings
Vietnamese:
mặc định
— electronics, computing: original settings
Finnish:
oletus
— selection made in the absence of an alternative
German:
einzige Wahl
— selection made in the absence of an alternative
Japanese:
既定
(kitei)
— selection made in the absence of an alternative
Spanish:
preselección
— selection made in the absence of an alternative
Swedish:
standard
— selection made in the absence of an alternative
Swedish:
standardval
— selection made in the absence of an alternative
Swedish:
skönsvärde
— selection made in the absence of an alternative
Armenian:
սկզբնադիր
(skzbnadir)
— value used when none has been given
Bulgarian:
стойност по подразбиране
(stojnost po podrazbirane)
— value used when none has been given
Catalan:
valor per defecte
— value used when none has been given
Chinese Mandarin:
默认
(mòrèn)
— value used when none has been given
Finnish:
oletus
— value used when none has been given
French:
valeur par défaut
— value used when none has been given
German:
Standard
— value used when none has been given
German:
Ausgangswert
— value used when none has been given
German:
Standardwert
— value used when none has been given
Hungarian:
kezdeti/kiindulási érték
— value used when none has been given
Italian:
predefinito
— value used when none has been given
Norwegian Bokmål:
standardverdi
— value used when none has been given
Polish:
wartość domyślna
— value used when none has been given
Portuguese:
default
— value used when none has been given
Portuguese:
valor predefinido
— value used when none has been given
Portuguese:
valor padrão
— value used when none has been given
Russian:
значе́ние по умолча́нию
(značénije po umolčániju)
— value used when none has been given
Sicilian:
primpustatu
— value used when none has been given
Spanish:
prevalor
— value used when none has been given
Swedish:
standard
— value used when none has been given
Swedish:
standardval
— value used when none has been given
Turkish:
standart değer
— value used when none has been given
Finnish:
poissaolo
— law: failure of defendant to appear
German:
Versäumnis
— law: failure of defendant to appear
German:
Nichterscheinen
— law: failure of defendant to appear
Norwegian Bokmål:
uteblivelse
— law: failure of defendant to appear
Tagalog:
pagkukulang
— law: failure of defendant to appear
Turkish:
gıyap
— law: failure of defendant to appear
Turkish:
yokluk
— law: failure of defendant to appear
Finnish:
lyödä laimin
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Finnish:
laiminlyödä
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
German:
zahlungsunfähig werden
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Hungarian:
mulaszt
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Hungarian:
(kötelezettséget) nem teljesít
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Polish:
zalegać
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Polish:
zalec
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Spanish:
faltar
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Spanish:
no pagar
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Spanish:
ponerse en mora
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Spanish:
incurrir en morosidad
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Spanish:
cometer morosidad
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Spanish:
estar moroso
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Spanish:
defaultear
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Spanish:
defoltear
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Spanish:
impagar
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Spanish:
caer/entrar en impago
— finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation
Finnish:
käyttää oletusarvona
— computing: to assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard
Finnish:
käyttää oletuksena
— computing: to assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard
German:
zurückfallen
— computing: to assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard
Hungarian:
alapértelmezett értéket vesz fel
— computing: to assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard
Hungarian:
alapértelmezett értéket kap
— computing: to assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard
Portuguese:
predeterminar
— computing: to assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard
Spanish:
estar preconfigurado
— computing: to assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard
Spanish:
tener como preconfiguración
— computing: to assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard