default

US /dɪˈfɔlt/ UK /dɪˈfɒlt/ See IPA manual

Freq #10744

Meanings

1

noun
A setting or value used automatically when no other choice is made.

If you don't specify a number, the default is one.
2

noun
Failure to do something required, especially to repay a debt.

He missed several payments and is now in default on his loan.
3

noun
A win or loss that happens because the other side fails to take part.

The team lost the game by default when they failed to show up.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms defaulteddefaulterdefaultersdefaultingdefaults

Derived forms defaultabledefaulterdefaultismdefaultistdefaultlessdefaultlynondefaultnondefaultingredefaultundefaultedundefaulting

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

default option
the choice used automatically when a user does not select another one

Noun + noun

Idioms (1)

See all

default alive
describing a startup whose normal growth will make it profitable without needing more funding

Simplified etymology

Default entered English in the Middle English period and ultimately belongs with fail, false, and fault to a word family derived from Latin fallere, “to deceive.”

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”).

defaute Middle English de- Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# default

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈfɔlt/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈfɒlt/
**Frequency rank:** 10744

## Meanings
1. A setting or value used automatically when no other choice is made.
2. Failure to do something required, especially to repay a debt.
3. A win or loss that happens because the other side fails to take part.

## Examples
- If you don't specify a number, the default is one.
- He missed several payments and is now in default on his loan.
- The team lost the game by default when they failed to show up.

## Derived Forms
- defaultable
- defaulter
- defaultism
- defaultist
- defaultless
- defaultly
- nondefault
- nondefaulting
- redefault
- undefaulted
- undefaulting

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: defaute
- Root: de-

## 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”).

## AI Etymology
Default comes 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”). The historical chain includes defaute (Middle English), defaute (Old French), and de- (Latin). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as defaultable, defaulter, defaultism, and defaultist. In present use it covers a setting or value used automatically when no other choice is made, failure to do something required, especially to repay a debt, and a win or loss that happens because the other side fails to take part.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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