fault

noun

UK /fɔːlt/

Word Forms

singular	fault
plural	faults

1
countable/uncountable the fact of being responsible for a bad or unpleasant situation
be someone’s fault:
It’s my fault – I forgot to give him the message.
be someone’s fault (that):
It’s not my fault that we’re late.
be someone’s own fault:
If you didn’t get enough sleep, it’s your own fault.
be all someone’s fault:
We’ve missed the plane and it’s all your fault!
be someone’s fault for doing something:
It was partly the teacher’s fault for not explaining things clearly enough.
through no fault of your own:
He seems to have lost the job through no fault of his own.
the fault lies with:
If a child does not attend school, the fault lies with the parent.
Synonyms and related words
Responsibilities and responsibility
accountability
responsibility
obligation
2
countable a feature of something that makes it less good
The book’s main fault is that it is too long.
for all something’s faults (=despite them):
For all its faults, it is still the best small car on the market.
Synonyms and related words
Faults
fault
defect
weakness
1. 2a
  a problem with a machine or piece of equipment that stops it from working correctly
  fault in:
  An engineer was called out to repair a fault in the alarm system.
  an electrical/mechanical/technical fault:
  The fire was caused by an electrical fault.
  Synonyms and related words
  Problems with machines
  bit rot
  breakdown
  bug
2. 2b
  a bad part of someone’s character
  She has her faults, but on the whole she’s very nice.
  for all someone’s faults (=despite them):
  For all his faults, he’s been a very good friend to me.
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of a person’s character
  a chink in someone’s armour
  affectation
  alter ego
3. 2c
  a small mistake in a product that spoils its appearance slightly and makes it less than perfect
  Clothes with faults are sold off cheaply through market stalls.
  Synonyms and related words
  Faults
  fault
  defect
  weakness
3
countable a service in tennis in which the ball does not land inside the correct area
Synonyms and related words
Tennis
ace
advantage
bagel
4
countable sciencea crack on or below the Earth’s surface
a geological fault
the San Andreas Fault
Synonyms and related words
The Earth’s surface and its features
aquifer
continental drift
continental shelf

phrases

at fault

find fault with

to a fault

fault

noun

US /fɔlt/

Word Forms

singular	fault
plural	faults

1
countable/uncountable the fact of being responsible for a bad or unpleasant situation
be someone’s fault:
It’s my fault – I forgot to give him the message.
be someone’s fault (that):
It’s not my fault that we’re late.
be someone’s own fault:
If you didn’t get enough sleep, it’s your own fault.
be all someone’s fault:
We missed our flight and it’s all your fault!
be someone’s fault for doing something:
It was partly the teacher’s fault for not explaining things clearly enough.
through no fault of your own:
He seems to have lost the job through no fault of his own.
the fault lies with:
If a child does not attend school, the fault lies with the parent.
Synonyms and related words
Responsibilities and responsibility
accountability
responsibility
obligation
2
countable a feature of something that makes it less good
The book’s main fault is that it is too long.
for all something’s faults (=despite them):
For all its faults, it is still the best small car on the market.
Synonyms and related words
Faults
fault
defect
weakness
1. 2a
  a problem with a machine or piece of equipment that stops it from working correctly
  fault in:
  An engineer was called out to repair a fault in the alarm system.
  an electrical/mechanical/technical fault:
  The fire was caused by an electrical fault.
  Synonyms and related words
  Problems with machines
  bit rot
  breakdown
  bug
2. 2b
  a bad part of someone’s character
  She has her faults, but on the whole she’s very nice.
  for all someone’s faults (=despite them):
  For all his faults, he’s been a very good friend to me.
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of a person’s character
  a chink in someone’s armor
  affectation
  alter ego
3. 2c
  mainly Britisha small mistake in a product that spoils its appearance slightly and makes it less than perfect
  Synonyms and related words
  Faults
  fault
  defect
  weakness
3
countable a service in tennis in which the ball does not land inside the correct area
Synonyms and related words
Tennis
ace
ace
advantage
4
countable sciencea crack on or below the Earth’s surface
a geological fault
the San Andreas Fault
Synonyms and related words
The Earth’s surface and its features
aquifer
continental drift
continental shelf

phrases

at fault

find fault with

to a fault

fault

verb transitive

UK /fɔːlt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	fault
he/she/it	faults
present participle	faulting
past tense	faulted
past participle	faulted

1
to find something bad or wrong in a person or thing
I can’t fault the players for effort and commitment.
be hard/difficult to fault:
Sophie’s performance was difficult to fault.
Synonyms and related words
To criticize, accuse or blame
criticize
blame
put down

fault

verb transitive

US /fɔlt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	fault
he/she/it	faults
present participle	faulting
past tense	faulted
past participle	faulted

1
to find something bad or wrong in a person or thing
I can’t fault the players for their effort and commitment.
be hard/difficult to fault:
Sophie’s performance was difficult to fault.
Synonyms and related words
To criticize, accuse or blame
criticize
blame
put down

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