fault line

NOUN

line of rock displacement

Synonyms

STRONGEST

rift

WEAK

break crack fault fault trace fault trend fracture geological fault split

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The episode exposed a fault line in Silicon Valley between engineers who viewed autonomous targeting as an ethical red line and defense officials who saw it as essential.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

But Wales's decision to include glass has become a major fault line with industry representatives.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

The fault line exposed now is that private credit is being offered to retail investors and wealthy individuals whose liquidity preferences are different from sophisticated, more patient institutional investors.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

He astutely flags “medical gatekeeping” as an emerging fault line.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

Seeing her so changed made me feel as if I stood on a fault line and any moment my whole life might crack apart.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry