Meaning & use

fault

noun·Everyday

Responsibility for a mistake or wrongdoing, or a flaw or defect in something.

See it in a sentence

It was clearly his fault that the car ran out of gas on the highway.

The engineer discovered a fault in the bridge's design before construction began.

A note on using this word

In geology, 'fault' refers to a crack in the earth's crust along which rocks shift, as seen in the San Andreas Fault.

Words with a similar meaning

blameflaw

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To find something wrong with a person or their actions; to blame.

No one could fault her effort, even though the project ultimately failed.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fault”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.