default

English · Español · Italiano · Thesaurus

AI In plain words

Writing a short explanation…

Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

default

/dɪˈfɒlt/ UK
/ˈdiːˌfɒlt/ UK
/dɪˈfɔːlt/ UK
/ˈdiːˌfɔːlt/ UK
/dɪˈfɔlt/ US
/ˈdiːˌfɔlt/ US
/dɪˈfɑlt/ cot caught merger
/ˈdiːˌfɑlt/ cot caught merger
/dəˈfɒːlt/ Ireland
[dəˈfäl]
[dəˈfälʔ]

Rhymes with -ɒlt, -ɔːlt

Where it comes from

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”).

noun defaults

countable, uncountable The condition of failing to meet an obligation. He failed to make payments on time, and he is now in default.
countable, uncountable The condition of being an obligation that has not been met. The deadline has passed, so the debt is now in default.
countable, uncountable the original software programming settings as set by the factory
countable, uncountable A loss incurred by failing to compete. The team's three losses include one default.
countable, uncountable A selection made in the absence of an alternative. The man became the leader of the group as a default.
attributive, countable, often, uncountable A value used when none has been given; a tentative value or standard that is presumed. If you don't specify a number of items, the default is 1.
countable, uncountable The failure of a defendant to appear and answer a summons and complaint.
countable, obsolete, uncountable A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires. This evil has happened through the governor's default.
countable, obsolete, uncountable Lack; absence. one was dragging a great coat from the window, before which it had long hung as a blind, in total default of glass or shutters
countable, obsolete, uncountable Fault; offence; wrong act. regardless of our merit or default

verb defaults · defaulting · defaulted

intransitive To fail to appear and answer a summons and complaint.
intransitive To fail to fulfill a financial obligation. to default on a loan
intransitive To lose a competition by failing to compete. If you refuse to wear a proper uniform, you will not be allowed to compete and will default this match.
Similar: forfeit
ambitransitive To assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard. If you don't specify a color, it defaults to red.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: nonpayment, default on, default option, nonremittal, missing, omission, absent, fail, absence, absentee, failure, delinquency, fault, neglect, defect, dereliction

Translations

Every language

noun finance: condition of failing to meet an obligation

Español	mora, default
한국어	디폴트 dipolteu
日本語	デフォルト deforuto
中文	違約 /违约 wéiyuē, 暴雷 bàoléi
हिन्दी	व्यतिक्रम vyatikram
Português	inadimplência
Français	défaut, non-respect
Deutsch	Fristversäumnis, Säumnis, Zahlungseinstellung, Zahlungsverzug, Nichtzahlung, Zahlungsausfall
Italiano	mora, morosità, default, inadempienza
Русский	дефо́лт defólt, неплатёж neplatjóž

noun electronics, computing: original settings

Español	preconfiguración
日本語	デフォルト deforuto
中文	初始設定 /初始设定
Português	configuração inicial, default, configuração padrão, predefinição, predeterminado
Français	paramètres par défaut, paramètres usine
Deutsch	Werkseinstellung, Originaleinstellungen, Standardeinstellung, Standardeinstellungen, Voreinstellung, Grundzustand
Ελληνικά	προεπιλογή proepilogí, προεπιλεγμένος proepilegménos
Русский	по умолчанию po umolčaniju
Tiếng Việt	mặc định
עברית	ברירת מחדל

noun selection made in the absence of an alternative

Español	preselección
日本語	既定 kitei
Deutsch	einzige Wahl

noun value used when none has been given

Español	prevalor
中文	默认 mòrèn
Português	default, valor predefinido, valor padrão
Français	valeur par défaut
Deutsch	Standard, Ausgangswert, Standardwert
Italiano	predefinito
Русский	значе́ние по умолча́нию značénije po umolčániju

noun law: failure of defendant to appear

Deutsch	Versäumnis, Nichterscheinen

verb finance: to fail to fulfill a financial obligation

Español	faltar, no pagar, ponerse en mora, incurrir en morosidad, cometer morosidad, estar moroso
Deutsch	zahlungsunfähig werden

verb computing: to assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard

Español	estar preconfigurado, tener como preconfiguración
Português	predeterminar
Deutsch	zurückfallen

Talk about this word

Cite this

MLA

"default." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/default. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

default. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/default

Chicago

"default." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/default.

BibTeX

@misc{default_2026,
  title = {default},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/default},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}