'Failure' definitions:

Definition of 'failure'

From: WordNet
noun
An act that fails; "his failure to pass the test"
noun
An event that does not accomplish its intended purpose; "the surprise party was a complete failure" [ant: success]
noun
Lack of success; "he felt that his entire life had been a failure"; "that year there was a crop failure" [ant: success]
noun
A person with a record of failing; someone who loses consistently [syn: failure, loser, nonstarter, unsuccessful person] [ant: achiever, succeeder, success, winner]
noun
An unexpected omission; "he resented my failure to return his call"; "the mechanic's failure to check the brakes"
noun
Inability to discharge all your debts as they come due; "the company had to declare bankruptcy"; "fraudulent loans led to the failure of many banks" [syn: bankruptcy, failure]
noun
Loss of ability to function normally; "kidney failure"

Definition of 'Failure'

From: GCIDE
  • Failure \Fail"ure\, n. [From Fail.]
  • 1. Cessation of supply, or total defect; a failing; deficiency; as, failure of rain; failure of crops. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Omission; nonperformance; as, the failure to keep a promise. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Want of success; the state of having failed. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Decay, or defect from decay; deterioration; as, the failure of memory or of sight. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. A becoming insolvent; bankruptcy; suspension of payment; as, failure in business. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. A failing; a slight fault. [Obs.] --Johnson. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'failure'

From: GCIDE
  • Fail \Fail\, n. [OF. faille, from failir. See Fail, v. i.]
  • 1. Miscarriage; failure; deficiency; fault; -- mostly superseded by failure or failing, except in the phrase without fail. "His highness' fail of issue." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Death; decease. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'failure'

From: Moby Thesaurus