failure
failure — noun
1. a situation where a person or group misses a goal they aimed for, or a plan that
a situation where a person or group misses a goal they aimed for, or a plan that does not deliver the result it was expected to
After three attempts, Dario accepted his failure to pass the driving test.
failure + to-infinitive
The team's repeated failures in the tournament led to a change of coach.
collocation: repeated failures
Yuki's fear of failure stopped her from applying for the promotion she wanted.
Despite months of preparation, the marketing campaign ended in complete failure.
- lack of success
more literal and formal; describes the outcome without judgment
- defeat
specifically about losing in a competition, contest, or battle
- setback
a temporary failure that does not mean total loss; milder in connotation
- success
the opposite — achieving a desired goal
文法句型
failure + to-infinitive
failure + in + noun/gerund
adjective + failure
用法筆記
Countable when referring to a specific unsuccessful attempt (e.g. 'the experiment was a failure'); uncountable when speaking about the abstract concept (e.g. 'fear of failure').
常見錯誤
2. an occasion when someone does not carry out a task, follow a rule, or meet an ob
an occasion when someone does not carry out a task, follow a rule, or meet an obligation — especially when this causes harm or problems to others
Gabriel's failure to report the accident resulted in a heavy fine.
failure + to-infinitive (legal duty)
The company faced legal action over its failure to ensure worker safety at the factory.
A failure to pay the bill on time may lead to an extra charge.
Teachers expressed concern over the school's failure to provide proper learning materials.
- compliance
doing what is required by rules or laws
文法句型
failure + to-infinitive
someone's failure + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Commonly followed by 'to + infinitive' to specify the omitted action. This sense is typically uncountable and used in formal, legal, or regulatory contexts to describe a breach of responsibility.
常見錯誤
3. a situation in which a machine, system, or part of the body stops working correc
a situation in which a machine, system, or part of the body stops working correctly or stops working altogether
The plane crash was caused by an engine failure shortly after takeoff.
engine failure
Power failures during the storm left thousands of homes without electricity for days.
power failure
A sudden failure of the cooling system forced the factory to close for a week.
The mechanic traced the accident to a brake failure in the rear wheel.
- breakdown
usually refers to vehicles or machines stopping suddenly
- malfunction
suggests the thing works but not as intended, rather than stopping completely
- crash
reserved for computers and software stopping unexpectedly
- functioning
working correctly
文法句型
noun + failure
failure + of + noun
用法筆記
Countable when describing a specific breakdown event (e.g. 'engine failure'); uncountable when referring to the general condition (e.g. 'kidney failure'). In medical contexts, 'heart failure' / 'kidney failure' are uncountable and describe a chronic condition.
常見錯誤
4. someone or something regarded as not having achieved what people expected, a lab
someone or something regarded as not having achieved what people expected, a label that often carries a strong negative judgment
At school, Mateo was labelled a failure by his teachers because of his low grades.
After two failed businesses, Folake began to see herself as a failure despite her efforts.
see oneself as a failure
The new smartphone was a commercial failure and was pulled from stores within a year.
Vivek felt the whole project was a failure from the very first day.
- underachiever
less harsh; suggests the person could have done better but did not try hard enough
- flop
informal; used mainly for creative works like films, plays, or products
- disappointment
focuses on others' feelings rather than the person's own qualities
- success
a person or thing that achieves the expected result
文法句型
a + adjective + failure
regard/view + someone/something + as a failure
用法筆記
Strongly subjective and often hurtful when applied to a person — calling someone 'a failure' is a harsh judgment on their whole character, not just a specific outcome. Use with care in teaching contexts. The word can also apply to products, projects, or events.
常見錯誤
5. the closing down of a company or organization because it has run out of money or
the closing down of a company or organization because it has run out of money or can no longer attract enough customers to stay in business
The failure of several local banks caused widespread panic in the farming community.
failure of [business entity]
Many small shops face failure when a large supermarket opens nearby.
face failure
Élise studied the reasons behind the failure of three tech startups in her report.
The economic downturn led to the failure of hundreds of family-owned restaurants.
- bankruptcy
a specific legal status where debts cannot be paid; narrower than failure
- collapse
suggests a sudden and dramatic end
- closure
neutral; can be voluntary or forced, not necessarily due to financial trouble
- success
a business that stays profitable and continues operating
文法句型
the failure of + [business entity]
face failure
用法筆記
Often interchangeable with 'bankruptcy' but broader in scope — failure can describe closure from running out of customers, losing a key contract, or poor management, not solely from being unable to pay debts. Used in business and economics contexts.