Illustration of fault
- 1 fault with displaced strata a b c d e
- 2 scarp
1
b
: a physical or intellectual imperfection or impairment : defect
a theory with some serious faults
c
: an error especially in service in a net or racket game
She committed too many faults to win the match.
2
: responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
the accident was the driver's fault
3
a
: mistake
The misplacement of "only" is one of the most common writing faults.
b
: misdemeanor
a small boy's faults
4
: a fracture in the crust of a planet (such as the earth) or moon accompanied by a displacement of one side of the fracture with respect to the other usually in a direction parallel to the fracture
Frequent earthquakes have occurred along the San Andreas Fault.
5
obsolete
: lack
faulted; faulting; faults
1
: to find a fault in
easy to praise this book and to fault it—
H. G. Roepke
H. G. Roepke3
: to produce a geologic fault in
Examples of fault in a Sentence
Noun
Lack of courage is his worst fault.
If the book has a fault, it's that it's too long.
It's your own fault you missed that bus.
Through no fault of his own, he won't be able to attend the meeting.
She committed too many faults to win the match.
Verb
The truck driver was faulted for the accident.
Many have faulted her for not acting sooner.
I can't fault him for trying to protect his family.
Recent Examples on the Web
Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2025
Our inability to pay attention is not just the smartphone’s fault.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 12 June 2025
In a statement Saturday, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons faulted local officials, including LA Mayor Karen Bass, and police for their response to the situation on Friday evening.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fault
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Noun
In his answer to the lawsuit, Walker contends that any liability for damages should be reduced or eliminated if it is revealed that Sevier failed to mitigate his damages and was negligent and/or comparatively at fault.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2025
Our inability to pay attention is not just the smartphone’s fault.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Verb
The department also faulted federal officials for not coordinating with local law enforcement in advance, thus delaying deployment and affecting LAPD’s ability to proactivity plan crowd-control operations.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 12 June 2025
In a statement Saturday, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons faulted local officials, including LA Mayor Karen Bass, and police for their response to the situation on Friday evening.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fault
Cite this Entry
“Fault.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fault. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fault
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a weakness in character : failing
b
: a physical or mental flaw
2
a
: a wrongful act
3
: responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
it's all my fault
4
: a break in the earth's crust accompanied by a displacement of rock masses parallel to the break
faultless
adjective
-ləs
faultlessly
adverb
faultlessness
noun
fault
2 of 2 verb1
: to fracture so as to produce a geologic fault
2
: to find a fault in
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