n.
- failure to fulfil an obligation, especially to repay a loan or appear in a law court.
- a preselected option adopted by a computer program or other mechanism when no alternative is specified.
v.
- fail to fulfil an obligation:
some had defaulted on student loans.
▸declare (a party) in default and give judgement against that party.
-
(default to)
revert automatically to (a preselected option).
Phrase
Etymology
ME: from OFr. defaut, from defaillir ‘to fail’, based on L. fallere ‘disappoint, deceive’.