failure
♦♦ fail|ure /f'eɪljər/ (failures)
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Failure is a lack of success in doing or achieving something, especially in relation to a particular activity.
This policy is doomed to failure...
Three attempts on the British 200-metre record also ended in failure.
...feelings of failure.
≠ success
2 [N-COUNT]
If something is a failure, it is not a success.
The marriage was a failure and they both wanted to be free of it...
His six-year transition programme has by no means been a complete failure.
≠ success
3 [N-COUNT]
If you say that someone is a failure, you mean that they have not succeeded in a particular activity, or that they are unsuccessful at everything they do.
Elgar received many honors and much acclaim and yet he often considered himself a failure...
≠ success
4 [N-UNCOUNT] N to-inf, oft poss N
Your failure to do a particular thing is the fact that you do not do it, even though you were expected to do it.
...their failure to get the product mix right.
5 [N-VAR] with supp, oft n N
If there is a failure of something, for example a machine or part of the body, it goes wrong and stops working or developing properly.
There were also several accidents mainly caused by engine failures on take-off...
He was being treated for kidney failure...
6 [N-VAR] with supp
If there is a failure of a business or bank, it is no longer able to continue operating. (BUSINESS)
Business failures rose 16% last month.
= collapseheart fail|ure
[N-UNCOUNT]
Heart failure is a serious medical condition in which someone's heart does not work as well as it should, sometimes stopping completely so that they die.pow|er fail|ure (power failures)
[N-VAR]
A power failure is a period of time when the electricity supply to a particular building or area is interrupted, for example because of damage to the cables.
= outage
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Failure is a lack of success in doing or achieving something, especially in relation to a particular activity.
This policy is doomed to failure...
Three attempts on the British 200-metre record also ended in failure.
...feelings of failure.
≠ success
2 [N-COUNT]
If something is a failure, it is not a success.
The marriage was a failure and they both wanted to be free of it...
His six-year transition programme has by no means been a complete failure.
≠ success
3 [N-COUNT]
If you say that someone is a failure, you mean that they have not succeeded in a particular activity, or that they are unsuccessful at everything they do.
Elgar received many honors and much acclaim and yet he often considered himself a failure...
≠ success
4 [N-UNCOUNT] N to-inf, oft poss N
Your failure to do a particular thing is the fact that you do not do it, even though you were expected to do it.
...their failure to get the product mix right.
5 [N-VAR] with supp, oft n N
If there is a failure of something, for example a machine or part of the body, it goes wrong and stops working or developing properly.
There were also several accidents mainly caused by engine failures on take-off...
He was being treated for kidney failure...
6 [N-VAR] with supp
If there is a failure of a business or bank, it is no longer able to continue operating. (BUSINESS)
Business failures rose 16% last month.
= collapseheart fail|ure
[N-UNCOUNT]
Heart failure is a serious medical condition in which someone's heart does not work as well as it should, sometimes stopping completely so that they die.pow|er fail|ure (power failures)
[N-VAR]
A power failure is a period of time when the electricity supply to a particular building or area is interrupted, for example because of damage to the cables.
= outage