Phrase guide

too big to fail

adj · 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

adj

Meaning 1

Deemed too important to the economy or polity to be allowed to “fail”, that is to be liquidated or to go bankrupt.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, economics, finance, government, politics, sciences

Examples

  • 1912, Fabian Society, Fabian Tract No. 164, "Gold and State Banking: A Study in the Economics of Monopoly" The fact, which surely everybody knows and hardly anybody ventures to state, is that the stability of our great banks--and all our banking system which now matters a tittle consists of great banks--is based not on the supply of gold in their vaults, nor on the reserve in the Bank of England, but on the fact that they are too big to fail, too big commercially and far too big politically. If Lloyds, or the London County, or the National Provincial stopped payment, the consequences would far exceed a San Francisco earthquake, a Chicago fire, or any other catastrophe within the memory of man.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: TBTF

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.