# failure

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfeɪ.ljə/ · frequency rank #1,939

## Definitions
1. State or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success.
2. State or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, opposite of success.
3. Omission to do something, whether or not it was attempted, especially something that ought to have been done.
4. An object, person or endeavour in a state of failure, has failed at something or incapable of success.
5. Termination of the ability of an item to perform its required function; breakdown.
6. Bankruptcy.

## Etymology
From Anglo-Norman failer, from Old French faillir (“to fail”). Equivalent to fail + -ure.

## Easily confused with
- **figure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/failure-vs-figure)
- **failures** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/failure-vs-failures)

## Common misspellings (9)
`afilure`, `faillure`, `failrue`, `failuer`, `failurre`, `faiulre`, `faliure`, `ffailure`, `fialure`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/failure