Dictionary
List of exercises
Exercises by level
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
OK
Meaning of fault in English
Pronunciation
/fɔlt/
US accent
Your browser does not support the audio element.
How to pronounce fault in American English, in context
▾
Use the controls below
to browse different examples of pronunciation.
UK accent
Your browser does not support the audio element.
How to pronounce fault in British English, in context
▾
Use the controls below
to browse different examples of pronunciation.
Verb
fault
Definitions
1.
put or pin the blame on
Antonyms
absolve
justify
free
Noun
fault
Etymology
Middle English faut(e) ‘lack, failing’, from Old French, based on Latin fallere‘deceive’. The -l- was added (in French and English) in the 15th century to conform with the Latin word, but did not become standard in English until the 17th century, remaining silent in pronunciation until well into the 18th
Definitions
1.
responsibility for a bad situation or event
Examples
« it was John's fault »
2.
(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
Examples
« they built it right over a geological fault »
3.
the quality of being inadequate or falling short of perfection
Examples
« they discussed the merits and demerits of her novel »
« he knew his own faults much better than she did »
Antonyms
merit
virtue
4.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
Examples
« he made a bad mistake »
« she was quick to point out my errors »
« I could understand his English in spite of his grammatical faults »
5.
an imperfection in a device or machine
Examples
« if there are any defects you should send it back to the manufacturer »
6.
(sports) a serve that is illegal (e.g., that lands outside the prescribed area)
Examples
« he served too many double faults »
7.
(electronics) equipment failure attributable to some defect in a circuit (loose connection or insulation failure or short circuit etc.)
Examples
« it took much longer to find the fault than to fix it »