Phrase guide

failed state

noun · 1 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

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A state that has failed to meet the basic conditions and responsibilities of a sovereign government; one that has lost physical control of its territory, the ability to provide public services, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: government, politics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Initially applied to Somalia in the 1990s.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: mislukte staat — type of state
  • Armenian: չկայացած պետություն (čʻkayacʻac petutʻyun) — type of state
  • Basque: egindako estatu — type of state
  • Catalan: estat fallit — type of state
  • Chinese Mandarin: 失敗國家 /失败国家 (shībài guójiā) — type of state
  • Danish: fejlslagen stat — type of state
  • Dutch: mislukte staat — type of state
  • Finnish: epäonnistunut valtio — type of state
  • French: État en déliquescence — type of state
  • French: État failli — type of state
  • Galician: estado falido — type of state
  • Georgian: არშემდგარი სახელმწიფო (aršemdgari saxelmc̣ipo) — type of state
  • German: gescheiterter Staat — type of state
  • Greek: αποτυχημένο κράτος (apotychiméno krátos) — type of state
  • Italian: stato fallito — type of state
  • Norwegian: mislykket stat — type of state
  • Polish: państwo upadłe — type of state
  • Portuguese: estado falido — type of state
  • Portuguese: estado falhado — type of state
  • Russian: несостоя́вшееся госуда́рство (nesostojávšejesja gosudárstvo) — type of state
  • Russian: фейл стейт (fejl stejt) — type of state
  • Spanish: estado fallido — type of state
  • Swedish: sviktande stat — type of state
  • Vietnamese: nhà nước thất bại — type of state