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Definitions

default

[dih-fawlt, dee-fawlt] / dɪˈfɔlt, ˈdiˌfɔlt /
NOUN
failure; want
Synonyms
STRONGEST
delinquency nonpayment
STRONG
absence blemish blunder dearth defect deficiency dereliction disregard error fault imperfection inadequacy insufficiency lack lapse miss neglect offense omission overlooking oversight privation shortcoming slight transgression vice weakness wrongdoing
Antonyms
STRONG
abundance accuracy achievement adequacy advantage attention care correction enough excess obedience perfection plenty regard remembrance respect right strength strong point success sufficiency
WEAK
payment satisfaction
VERB
dodge payment
Synonyms
STRONGEST
evade
STRONG
bilk defraud dishonor fail neglect repudiate shirk skate skip stiff swindle
WEAK
leave town meet under arch put on the cuff run out on see in the alley skip out on
Antonyms
STRONG
complete do meet
WEAK
pay

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Responses to the poll, unsurprisingly, followed default lines.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Karol came of age during the ascent of reggaeton and Latin club music as a new default in pop, and the first third of the show played to those uncompromising but crowd-pleasing strengths.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Sallie Mae, for example, typically considers loans in default after 120 days of missed payments.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

Most of the activity is in indexes, rather than contracts insuring against default by a single company.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

By early 2005 Howie Hubler had found a sufficient number of fools in the market to acquire 2 billion dollars’ worth of these bespoke credit default swaps.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Vocabulary lists containing default

Figurative Language in King's "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)

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Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)

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The Great Depression and The New Deal

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!