Phrase guide

power failure

noun · 2 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An unscheduled or accidental break in the supply of electricity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

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

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: blackout, outage, power cut

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

equipment failure resulting when the supply of power fails

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the ice storm caused a power outage

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: power outage

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: breakdown, equipment failure

Narrower terms: blackout, flame-out

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: sähkökatko — power failure — see also power cut, outage, blackout
  • French: coupure de courant — power failure — see also power cut, outage, blackout
  • French: panne de courant — power failure — see also power cut, outage, blackout
  • French: coupure d'electricité — power failure — see also power cut, outage, blackout
  • French: panne d'electricité — power failure — see also power cut, outage, blackout
  • German: Stromausfall — power failure — see also power cut, outage, blackout
  • Hungarian: áramkimaradás — power failure — see also power cut, outage, blackout
  • Hungarian: áramszünet — power failure — see also power cut, outage, blackout
  • Norwegian Bokmål: strømbrudd — power failure — see also power cut, outage, blackout
  • Portuguese: queda de energia — power failure — see also power cut, outage, blackout
  • Romanian: cădere de tensiune — power failure — see also power cut, outage, blackout
  • Turkish: elektrik kesintisi — power failure — see also power cut, outage, blackout