Standard Lemma guide

default

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

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: business, computing, electrical-engineering, electricity, electromagnetism, electronics, energy, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A loss incurred by failing to compete.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • The team's three losses include one default.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A selection made in the absence of an alternative.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • The man became the leader of the group as a default.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A value used when none has been given; a tentative value or standard that is presumed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: attributive, countable, often, uncountable

Examples

  • If you don't specify a number of items, the default is 1.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

The failure of a defendant to appear and answer a summons and complaint.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable

Examples

  • This evil has happened through the governor's default.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

Lack; absence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

Fault; offence; wrong act.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To fail to meet an obligation.

To fail to appear and answer a summons and complaint.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To fail to meet an obligation.

To fail to fulfill a financial obligation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Topics: business, finance

Examples

  • to default on a loan

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

To lose a competition by failing to compete.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • If you refuse to wear a proper uniform, you will not be allowed to compete and will default this match.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: forfeit

Antonyms: none provided

14

verb

Meaning 14

To assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • If you don't specify a color, it defaults to red.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

noun

Meaning 15

loss due to not showing up

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he lost the game by default

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: loss, absence

16

noun

Meaning 16

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
Real reading context

default in complete knowledge articles