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A2 noun #3,500 most common 10 min read

failure

Top 3,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips failure in 30 Seconds

Explanation failure in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'failure' is a word you might hear when something goes wrong, but it is often easier to use the verb 'fail.' For example, instead of saying 'It was a failure,' a beginner might say 'I failed.' At this level, you should understand that 'failure' means things did not go as planned. It is the opposite of 'success.' You might see it in simple sentences like 'The test was a failure' or 'The machine had a failure.' It is important to know that 'failure' is a noun, a thing. If you want to be successful, you want to avoid failure. Most A1 learners will encounter this word in the context of school grades or simple machines not working. It is a useful word to know because it helps you describe problems simply. Even though it is an A2 word, seeing it early helps you understand how English changes verbs into nouns. Just remember: 'fail' is what you do, and 'failure' is what you have or what happened.

At the A2 level, you should be able to use 'failure' in more specific ways. You can talk about a 'failure to do something,' which is a very common structure. For example, 'His failure to call me was a problem.' You also start to see 'failure' used with other words, like 'heart failure' or 'power failure.' These are common phrases you might hear in news or health conversations. At this level, you should understand that 'failure' can describe a person, though it is not very nice. If you say 'He is a failure,' it means he is not successful in life. You also learn that 'failure' can be plural: 'She had many failures before she finally succeeded.' This shows that failure is often part of the process of learning. You should be comfortable using 'failure' to describe why something didn't work, whether it's a plan, a machine, or a person's effort. It is a key word for describing negative outcomes in a clear, noun-based way.

At the B1 level, 'failure' becomes a tool for more detailed explanations. You can use it to discuss more abstract concepts, such as 'the failure of a relationship' or 'a failure of leadership.' You should be able to use various adjectives to describe the failure, such as 'total failure,' 'partial failure,' or 'unexpected failure.' At this level, you will likely encounter 'failure' in more formal texts, such as news reports about 'market failure' or 'diplomatic failure.' You should also understand the difference between 'failure' and its synonyms like 'setback' or 'breakdown.' For instance, a B1 learner should know that a 'setback' is less permanent than a 'failure.' You can also use the word in the common phrase 'end in failure.' For example, 'All our attempts to fix the car ended in failure.' This level requires a better grasp of the prepositions used with failure, specifically 'failure of' (the cause/subject) and 'failure in' (the area of failure).

At the B2 level, 'failure' is used with a high degree of nuance. You understand that failure can be a systemic issue, not just an individual one. You might discuss 'structural failure' in building design or 'systemic failure' in a social program. You are comfortable with the legalistic use of 'failure to,' such as 'failure to disclose information' or 'failure to exercise due diligence.' At this level, you can use the word to discuss philosophical or psychological themes, such as 'the fear of failure' or 'learning from failure.' You also recognize more idiomatic uses and can distinguish between a 'flop' (usually in entertainment) and a 'fiasco' (a chaotic failure). Your vocabulary includes collocations like 'abject failure' or 'spectacular failure.' You can also use the word to describe complex medical conditions or technical processes with precision. B2 learners should be able to write an essay discussing the role of failure in innovation, using the word correctly in various grammatical structures.

At the C1 level, you use 'failure' with professional precision. You can discuss 'failure modes' in engineering or 'market failures' in economics with a deep understanding of the underlying concepts. You are aware of the subtle connotations of the word in different registers. For example, you know that in a formal report, 'failure to perform' has specific contractual implications. You can use 'failure' to construct complex arguments, perhaps discussing 'the failure of modernism' or 'the failure of neoliberal policies.' You understand the rhetorical power of the word and can use it to emphasize a point, such as 'a monumental failure of the imagination.' At this level, you are also familiar with less common synonyms and can choose the most precise one, whether it's 'debacle,' 'omission,' or 'deficiency.' You can handle the word in virtually any context, from a casual conversation about a 'wardrobe failure' to a high-level academic discussion about 'respiratory failure' or 'institutional failure.'

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'failure' is complete. You can use it with absolute precision in any specialized field, from law and medicine to engineering and philosophy. You understand the historical and etymological roots of the word and how they influence its current usage. You can use 'failure' in highly sophisticated ways, such as discussing 'the failure of the signifier' in post-structuralist theory or 'cascading failure' in complex network theory. You are sensitive to the most minute differences in meaning—for instance, the difference between 'a failure of duty' and 'a dereliction of duty.' Your use of the word is idiomatic and natural, and you can play with its meanings for stylistic effect. You can analyze how the concept of failure is constructed in different cultures and how it is used as a tool in political discourse. At this level, 'failure' is not just a word for things going wrong; it is a complex concept that you can manipulate with ease and elegance in both speech and writing.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

failure in 30 Seconds

Failure means not succeeding in a goal.
It can describe machines breaking down.
It is often used with 'to' and a verb.
Failure is the opposite of success.

The word failure is a multifaceted noun that primarily denotes the lack of success in achieving a desired goal, the omission of an expected action, or the cessation of proper functioning in a mechanism. At its core, it represents the gap between an intended outcome and the actual result. In a personal context, failure often refers to an instance where an individual does not meet a standard or objective they have set for themselves or that has been set by others. For example, failing an exam or not getting a job after an interview are common personal failures. However, the term extends far beyond personal shortcomings. In the realm of engineering and technology, a failure refers to a component or system that stops working correctly, such as an engine failure or a power failure. In a legal or official sense, it can refer to the non-performance of a duty, such as a failure to comply with regulations. People use this word in professional settings to analyze mistakes and improve processes, in academic settings to discuss grades or research outcomes, and in daily life to describe everything from a minor kitchen mishap to a major life setback. Understanding failure is crucial because it is often viewed not just as a negative end-point, but as a vital part of the learning process—a sentiment captured in the popular business mantra 'fail fast, fail often.' This perspective suggests that through the analysis of a failure, one gains the necessary insights to achieve eventual success. The word carries significant emotional weight, often associated with disappointment or frustration, but it also serves as a technical descriptor in scientific and mechanical fields where emotion is absent.

Mechanical Application: When a machine stops working, we call it a failure. This is objective and lacks the moral judgment often associated with human failure.
Academic Context: In schools, failure usually means not achieving the minimum passing grade on an assignment or in a course.
Legal Omission: A failure to act can have legal consequences, such as a failure to pay taxes or a failure to provide evidence.

The mission was considered a total failure after the satellite lost communication with Earth.

His failure to arrive on time resulted in him missing the important presentation.

Heart failure is a serious medical condition where the heart cannot pump blood effectively.

The crops died due to a failure of the irrigation system during the drought.

Despite her hard work, the business ended in failure after only two years.

Using the word failure correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical versatility. It can function as a countable noun when referring to a specific instance or a person who has not succeeded. For example, 'The experiment was a failure' uses it as a countable noun describing a single event. Conversely, when discussing the abstract concept, it is uncountable: 'Failure is not an option.' One of the most common ways to use 'failure' is followed by an infinitive verb to indicate an omission or a lack of action, such as 'failure to pay,' 'failure to understand,' or 'failure to comply.' This structure is very common in formal and legal writing. Another frequent pattern involves the preposition 'of,' which links the failure to its cause or the entity failing, like 'the failure of the bank' or 'the failure of the peace talks.' When describing the outcome of an endeavor, we often use the phrase 'end in failure.' For instance, 'The negotiations ended in failure after three days.' Adjectives frequently paired with failure include 'total,' 'miserable,' 'complete,' 'abject,' and 'inevitable.' These help to qualify the degree or the nature of the lack of success. In a medical or technical sense, 'failure' is often the second part of a compound noun, such as 'kidney failure,' 'engine failure,' or 'power failure.' In these cases, it indicates that the organ or machine has stopped performing its necessary function. Understanding these patterns allows a speaker to move from simple sentences to more complex, professional expressions. Whether you are discussing a personal mistake, a technical glitch, or a systemic collapse, 'failure' provides a precise way to describe the absence of success or function.

Verb + Failure: Common verbs that precede 'failure' include 'admit,' 'avoid,' 'fear,' and 'experience.' Example: 'He refused to admit failure.'
Adjective + Failure: Common adjectives include 'spectacular,' 'catastrophic,' 'repeated,' and 'systemic.' Example: 'The project was a spectacular failure.'
Failure + To-Infinitive: This structure shows what was not done. Example: 'Their failure to communicate led to a misunderstanding.'

The failure of the electrical grid plunged the city into darkness.

She felt like a failure after her third business venture collapsed.

There is a high risk of respiratory failure in patients with severe pneumonia.

The word failure resonates across various domains of human activity, from the high-stakes environment of corporate boardrooms to the intimate conversations of personal growth. In the business world, you will frequently hear it in the context of 'market failure,' where the allocation of goods and services by a free market is not efficient. Entrepreneurs often discuss their past failures as badges of honor, proving they have taken risks. In technology and engineering, 'failure analysis' is a formal process of investigating why a product or system failed to perform as intended. This is common in aerospace, automotive, and software development sectors. In the news, you will hear about 'diplomatic failure' when peace talks break down, or 'intelligence failure' when a security threat is not anticipated. The medical field uses 'failure' to describe the declining function of organs, such as 'liver failure' or 'congestive heart failure.' In sports, commentators might refer to a team's 'failure to convert' a scoring opportunity. Beyond these specialized fields, the word is a staple of self-help literature and motivational speaking, where the focus is on 'overcoming failure' or 'learning from failure.' It is also common in academic settings, where students discuss the 'failure rate' of a difficult course. In literature and film, the 'tragic failure' of a protagonist is a classic theme. You might also encounter it in everyday frustrations, like a 'software failure' on your computer or a 'failure of the imagination' in a creative project. Because it covers everything from a broken toaster to a bankrupt country, it is one of the most versatile words for describing things that go wrong.

Business/Tech: 'We need to conduct a root cause analysis of this system failure.'
Medical: 'The patient is showing early signs of renal failure.'
News/Politics: 'The failure of the summit has led to increased tensions between the two nations.'

The bank's failure sent shockwaves through the global financial markets.

The report highlighted a systemic failure in the local government's response to the crisis.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with the word failure is confusing it with the verb 'fail.' Remember that 'fail' is the action, and 'failure' is the result or the state. You cannot say 'He was failure in the test'; instead, you must say 'He failed the test' or 'His result was a failure.' Another common error involves the misuse of countability. While 'failure' can be uncountable (meaning the general concept of not succeeding), it is countable when referring to specific instances or people. Saying 'I had many failure' is incorrect; it should be 'I had many failures.' Learners also often struggle with the preposition that follows 'failure.' While 'failure in' is common when referring to a subject (failure in mathematics), 'failure of' is used for the thing that stopped working (failure of the engine) or the person/entity that failed (failure of the government). Furthermore, 'failure to' must always be followed by the base form of a verb (failure to do, failure to see), never a gerund (failure to doing). Another nuance is the emotional weight of calling a person 'a failure.' In English, this is a very harsh and permanent-sounding criticism. It is much more common and polite to say someone 'has failed at something' or 'experienced failure' rather than labeling the person themselves as 'a failure.' Finally, avoid confusing 'failure' with 'loss.' While a failure can lead to a loss (like losing money), they are not synonyms. A failure is the lack of success, while a loss is the state of no longer having something.

Confusing Noun and Verb: Incorrect: 'The fail of the system.' Correct: 'The failure of the system.'
Preposition Errors: Incorrect: 'My failure for the exam.' Correct: 'My failure in the exam' or 'My failure to pass the exam.'
Gerund vs. Infinitive: Incorrect: 'Failure to completing.' Correct: 'Failure to complete.'

Incorrect: He is a total fail. (Slang only) | Correct: He is a total failure.

While failure is the most general term for not succeeding, several synonyms offer more specific shades of meaning depending on the context. For instance, a setback is a temporary failure or a delay in progress, implying that success is still possible later. A fiasco or a debacle refers to a total, often embarrassing failure, usually involving a lot of confusion or poor organization. If a creative project or a movie is a failure, it is often called a flop. In a technical context, you might use breakdown or malfunction instead of failure to describe a machine that has stopped working. For example, a 'mechanical breakdown' sounds more specific than a 'mechanical failure.' In sports or war, defeat is the appropriate term when the failure is caused by an opponent. If you want to sound more formal or academic, you might use deficiency or omission. 'Deficiency' suggests a lack of something necessary, while 'omission' refers specifically to a failure to do something that should have been done. On the more dramatic side, a catastrophe or disaster describes a failure with devastating consequences. Choosing the right alternative depends on whether you want to emphasize the temporary nature of the problem (setback), the embarrassment involved (fiasco), the technical cause (malfunction), or the scale of the result (disaster). Understanding these alternatives allows for more precise and expressive communication.

Failure vs. Setback: A failure is an end result; a setback is a temporary hurdle on the way to a goal.
Failure vs. Malfunction: Failure is general; malfunction specifically implies a machine is operating incorrectly but might still be running.
Failure vs. Fiasco: Failure can be quiet and private; a fiasco is public, chaotic, and often ridiculous.

The play was a commercial flop, closing after only two nights.

The sudden breakdown of the truck delayed the delivery by several hours.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The word 'failure' didn't become common in English until the 17th century; before that, people mostly used the verb 'fail'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈfeɪljə(r)/

US /ˈfeɪljər/

The stress is on the first syllable: FAIL-ure.

Rhymes With

mailer jailer tailor sailor aler haler scaler whaler

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as three syllables (fail-u-re) instead of two.
Confusing the 'u' sound with 'oo'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Common in news and books, easy to recognize.

Writing 3/5

Requires knowledge of 'failure to' and 'failure of' patterns.

Speaking 3/5

Natural usage requires distinguishing from the verb 'fail'.

Listening 2/5

Clearly pronounced and common in many contexts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

fail success wrong broken try

Learn Next

setback fiasco malfunction comply omission

Advanced

ontological systemic mitigate consensus ideology

Grammar to Know

Nouns from Verbs

Fail (verb) -> Failure (noun)

Infinitive after Nouns

Failure to act (not failure of acting)

Countable vs. Uncountable

He is a failure (countable) vs. Failure is part of life (uncountable).

Prepositional Phrases

Failure of the machine; Failure in math.

Adjective Placement

A total failure; A spectacular failure.

Examples by Level

The test was a failure.

The test was not good.

'A failure' is a countable noun here.

Failure is not good.

Success is better.

'Failure' is used as an uncountable abstract noun.

The machine had a failure.

The machine stopped.

'Had a failure' is a common way to describe a breakdown.

I want to avoid failure.

I want to be successful.

'Avoid' is a verb often used with 'failure'.

Is it a failure?

Did it go wrong?

A simple question using 'failure' as a noun.

Success and failure are different.

One is good, one is bad.

Comparing two abstract nouns.

He felt like a failure.

He felt sad because he didn't win.

'Like a failure' describes the person's feeling.

The party was a total failure.

No one came to the party.

'Total' is an adjective that makes 'failure' stronger.

His failure to arrive on time was bad.

He was late.

'Failure to [verb]' is a very important pattern.

There was a power failure last night.

The lights went out.

'Power failure' is a compound noun.

The crops died because of a failure of rain.

It did not rain.

'Failure of [noun]' shows what was missing.

She learned from her failure.

She got better after making a mistake.

'From' is the preposition used for the source of learning.

The business ended in failure.

The business closed.

'Ended in failure' is a common phrase.

They experienced a technical failure.

The computer stopped working.

'Experienced' is a formal verb to use with 'failure'.

Do not fear failure.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes.

'Fear' is a common emotion associated with failure.

The engine failure caused the delay.

The motor broke.

'Engine failure' is a specific technical term.

The failure of the peace talks led to war.

The meeting did not work.

'Failure of [something complex]' is common at this level.

It was a failure of communication between the two departments.

They didn't talk to each other correctly.

'Failure of communication' is a professional collocation.

Despite the failure, he decided to try again.

He didn't give up.

Using 'despite' to contrast failure with persistence.

Market failure can happen when there is a monopoly.

The economy has a problem.

'Market failure' is an introductory economic term.

The patient suffered from heart failure.

The heart was weak.

'Suffered from' is the typical medical phrasing.

A failure to comply with the rules will result in a fine.

Follow the rules or pay money.

'Failure to comply' is formal and legalistic.

She admitted that the project was a failure.

She said it didn't work.

'Admitted that [clause]' is a B1 structure.

The failure rate for the new product was very high.

Many of the products were broken.

'Failure rate' is a common statistical term.

The bridge collapse was due to a structural failure.

The way it was built was wrong.

'Structural failure' is an engineering term.

His abject failure to lead the team resulted in chaos.

He was a very bad leader.

'Abject' is a strong adjective used at B2 level.

The failure of the bank triggered a global recession.

The bank closing caused big problems everywhere.

'Triggered' is a sophisticated verb for cause and effect.

They are analyzing the failure modes of the new software.

They are looking at how it might break.

'Failure modes' is a technical collocation.

The film was a commercial failure despite good reviews.

It didn't make money even though critics liked it.

'Commercial failure' is a common B2 collocation.

Her failure to disclose the conflict of interest was a serious error.

She didn't tell the truth about her interests.

'Failure to disclose' is a common legal/ethical phrase.

The system is designed with a fail-safe to prevent total failure.

It has a backup.

'Fail-safe' is a related compound noun.

We must view this failure as an opportunity for growth.

Let's learn from this mistake.

Using failure as a catalyst for something positive.

The catastrophe was a monumental failure of the imagination.

They couldn't even imagine such a bad thing happening.

'Failure of the imagination' is a high-level rhetorical phrase.

Systemic failure within the organization made reform impossible.

The whole system was broken.

'Systemic failure' refers to problems built into the system.

The patient's multi-organ failure made the prognosis grim.

Many organs stopped working, so the outlook was bad.

'Multi-organ failure' is a precise medical term.

The failure of the state to protect its citizens led to unrest.

The government didn't do its job.

'Failure of the state' is a political science term.

His career was marked by a series of spectacular failures.

He had many very big, public mistakes.

'Spectacular' adds a dramatic tone to the noun.

The failure to achieve a consensus stalled the negotiations.

They couldn't agree, so they stopped talking.

'Failure to achieve a consensus' is formal academic/diplomatic English.

The software's failure to handle edge cases led to a crash.

It couldn't handle unusual situations.

'Edge cases' is a C1-level technical term.

The economic crisis was a failure of neoliberal ideology.

The ideas behind the economy were wrong.

'Failure of [ideology]' is used in high-level analysis.

The cascading failure of the power grid was an engineering nightmare.

One thing broke, then another, then everything.

'Cascading failure' is a very specific technical term.

In post-structuralist thought, the failure of the signifier is central.

Words cannot perfectly represent reality.

Academic usage in philosophy/linguistics.

The company's demise was a textbook case of institutional failure.

It is a perfect example of a broken organization.

'Textbook case' and 'institutional failure' are C2 collocations.

The failure of the treaty to address maritime borders led to friction.

The agreement didn't talk about the sea, so there was trouble.

Precise legal/diplomatic usage.

Her poetry often explores the failure of language to capture emotion.

Words aren't enough for feelings.

Literary/philosophical context.

The failure to mitigate the environmental impact was a dereliction of duty.

They didn't stop the damage, which was their job.

'Mitigate' and 'dereliction of duty' are high-level terms.

A failure of nerve at the critical moment cost him the championship.

He got scared when it mattered most.

'Failure of nerve' is an idiomatic way to describe losing courage.

The ontological failure of the project was apparent from the start.

The project's very existence was flawed.

'Ontological failure' is extremely academic.

Common Collocations

total failure

systemic failure

engine failure

heart failure

market failure

failure to comply

admit failure

fear of failure

end in failure

spectacular failure

Common Phrases

failure is not an option

— Success is absolutely necessary and must be achieved at all costs.

In this mission, failure is not an option.

Often Confused With

failure vs fail

Fail is a verb; failure is a noun.

failure vs loss

Failure is the lack of success; loss is losing something you had.

failure vs mistake

A mistake is an incorrect action; a failure is an unsuccessful result.

Idioms & Expressions

"a recipe for failure"

— A set of conditions that will almost certainly lead to a bad outcome.

Poor planning and no budget are a recipe for failure.

informal

"epic fail"

— A spectacular or very embarrassing mistake.

He tripped during his speech—it was an epic fail.

slang

"single point of failure"

— A part of a system that, if it fails, will stop the entire system from working.

This server is a single point of failure for our network.

technical

"fail-safe"

— A system designed to return to a safe condition if it fails.

The nuclear plant has multiple fail-safe mechanisms.

technical

"learn the hard way"

— To learn something through a difficult failure or mistake.

I learned the hard way that you should always back up your files.

informal

"back to the drawing board"

— To start over because a previous attempt failed.

The prototype didn't work, so it's back to the drawing board.

idiomatic

"fall flat on one's face"

— To fail completely and embarrassingly.

The new marketing campaign fell flat on its face.

informal

"go down in flames"

— To fail spectacularly and suddenly.

The company went down in flames after the scandal.

informal

"miss the mark"

— To fail to achieve a desired result or accuracy.

The movie's attempt at humor really missed the mark.

neutral

"dead in the water"

— Something that has failed and has no hope of succeeding.

Without more funding, the project is dead in the water.

informal

Easily Confused

failure vs fault

Both involve things going wrong.

Fault refers to responsibility or a flaw; failure refers to the result.

The failure was caused by a fault in the wiring.

failure vs defect

Both are used in manufacturing.

A defect is a physical flaw; a failure is when the item stops working.

The product failure was due to a minor defect.

failure vs error

Both are negative outcomes.

An error is a wrong calculation or action; a failure is the state of not succeeding.

A human error caused the system failure.

failure vs defeat

Both mean not winning.

Defeat requires an opponent; failure can happen alone.

The team's failure to train led to their defeat.

failure vs breakdown

Both mean something stopped.

Breakdown is often used for cars or communication; failure is more general.

The car breakdown was a total failure for our trip.

Sentence Patterns

The [noun] was a failure.

The game was a failure.

Failure to [verb]...

Failure to pay is a problem.

The failure of [noun] led to [noun].

The failure of the engine led to a crash.

[Verb] in failure.

The plan ended in failure.

[Adjective] failure.

It was a systemic failure.

Failure of the [abstract noun].

It was a failure of the imagination.

[Technical adjective] failure.

The cascading failure was unstoppable.

[Academic adjective] failure.

The ontological failure of the theory.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in both spoken and written English.

Common Mistakes

He was failure. → He was a failure. / He failed.
Failure is a noun and usually needs an article when describing a person.
Failure to doing homework. → Failure to do homework.
'Failure to' must be followed by the infinitive (base) verb.
Many failure happened. → Many failures happened.
When referring to multiple events, use the plural 'failures'.
The fail of the engine. → The failure of the engine.
'Fail' is a verb; 'failure' is the noun needed here.
My failure for the test. → My failure in the test.
Use the preposition 'in' for subjects or tests.

Tips

Noun vs Verb

Always check if you need the action (fail) or the thing (failure). This is the most common mistake for learners.

Use Adjectives

Make your writing better by adding adjectives like 'total,' 'minor,' or 'technical' to the word failure.

Be Polite

Avoid calling people 'failures.' Use more specific language to describe what went wrong without attacking the person.

Legal Usage

In business, 'failure to deliver' is a very serious phrase. Use it carefully in emails.

Statistical Failure

In science, 'failure rate' is the standard way to talk about how often something doesn't work.

Organ Failure

When talking about health, 'failure' means an organ isn't doing its job anymore.

Recipe for Failure

Use this phrase to describe a plan that you think is going to go wrong.

Avoid Slang

Unless you are texting a friend, use 'failure' instead of 'fail' as a noun.

The F-Word

Think of 'Failure' as the 'Final' result of 'Failing'.

End in Failure

Remember this three-word phrase to describe how a project finished.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

FAILure = Forget All I Learned (a common student joke). Or think of a 'FAIL' stamp on a paper.

Visual Association

Imagine a large red 'X' over a broken machine or a light bulb that won't turn on.

Word Web

success mistake attempt goal engine heart power system

Challenge

Write three sentences: one about a machine failure, one about a personal failure, and one using 'failure to'.

Word Origin

Derived from the Old French word 'faille', which comes from 'faillir' (to fail). This, in turn, originates from the Latin 'fallere' meaning 'to deceive' or 'to disappoint'.

Original meaning: To be lacking, to miss, or to deceive expectation.

Indo-European (Latinate/Romance branch).

Cultural Context

Be careful when calling a person 'a failure,' as it is highly insulting and can be damaging to their self-esteem.

English speakers often use the word in sports to describe a lack of scoring. The phrase 'failure is not an option' is a famous quote from the Apollo 13 mission movie.

'Failure is not an option' (Gene Kranz/Apollo 13) 'I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.' (Thomas Edison) 'Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.' (Winston Churchill)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Education

failure to pass
exam failure
failure rate
learning from failure

Technology

system failure
hardware failure
failure analysis
fail-safe mechanism

Medicine

organ failure
heart failure
renal failure
respiratory failure

Business

market failure
business failure
failure to deliver
commercial failure

Law

failure to comply
failure to appear
failure to disclose
failure of duty

Conversation Starters

"Have you ever had a failure that taught you a big lesson?"

"Do you think 'failure is not an option' is a good motto?"

"What is the most common cause of failure in new businesses?"

"How do you feel when you experience a small failure?"

"Is it better to fail at something hard or succeed at something easy?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you experienced a failure and what happened next.

How do you define failure in your own life?

Write about a 'failure' that actually turned out to be a good thing.

How does your culture view failure compared to other cultures?

What is one failure you are afraid of, and how can you prepare for it?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Not necessarily. In many fields like science and entrepreneurship, failure is seen as a necessary step toward learning and eventual success. It provides data on what doesn't work.

Grammatically yes, but it is very mean. It is better to say 'He failed at the task' or 'The project was a failure.'

'Failure in' usually refers to a field or subject (failure in math). 'Failure of' refers to the thing that didn't work (failure of the engine) or the person responsible (failure of the leader).

No, 'epic fail' is very informal slang. In an essay, use 'complete failure' or 'significant failure.'

It is a medical term used for children or animals that are not growing or developing as they should.

Yes, it can be both. 'Success and failure' (uncountable) vs. 'He had three failures' (countable).

Always follow it with the base form of a verb: 'failure to stop,' 'failure to hear,' etc.

It is an economic term for when the market doesn't distribute resources efficiently on its own.

The most common opposite is 'success.' Other opposites include 'triumph' and 'victory.'

Yes, the plural is 'failures.'