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Definitions

default

[dih-fawlt, dee-fawlt] / dɪˈfɔlt, ˈdiˌfɔlt /
NOUN
failure; want
Synonyms
STRONGEST
delinquency nonpayment
STRONG
absence blemish blunder dearth defect deficiency dereliction disregard error fault imperfection inadequacy insufficiency lack lapse miss neglect offense omission overlooking oversight privation shortcoming slight transgression vice weakness wrongdoing
Antonyms
STRONG
abundance accuracy achievement adequacy advantage attention care correction enough excess obedience perfection plenty regard remembrance respect right strength strong point success sufficiency
WEAK
payment satisfaction
VERB
dodge payment
Synonyms
STRONGEST
evade
STRONG
bilk defraud dishonor fail neglect repudiate shirk skate skip stiff swindle
WEAK
leave town meet under arch put on the cuff run out on see in the alley skip out on
Antonyms
STRONG
complete do meet
WEAK
pay

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.

There is a statute of limitations for those who default on private student loans, which varies by state.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

Sallie Mae, for example, typically considers loans in default after 120 days of missed payments.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

Private credit default rates have been rising “for a while,” Capital Economics pointed out.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

This puts high-yield bonds and leveraged loans at a greater risk of default than investment-grade bonds, so they pay higher yields.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

No one seemed able to see what was so plain to him: These credit default swaps were all part of his global search for value.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Vocabulary lists containing default

Figurative Language in King's "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)

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Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)

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The Great Depression and The New Deal

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