26984 words

default

17 definitions • 31 examples
1
to fail to do something, such as pay a debt, that you legally have to do:

Examples:

default on People who default on their mortgage repayments may have their home repossessed.
2
In sport, if a team or player defaults, they allow the other side to win without playing or completing a game:

Examples:

He moved into the next round after his opponent defaulted because of injury.
3
the thing that exists or happens if you do not change it intentionally by performing an action:

Examples:

Unless something else is agreed, the default is to meet at the hotel at 7.00 p.m.
default value The computer will take 0 as the default value, unless you type in something different.
in default of formal In default of (= because there is not) any better alternative, we will have to proceed with the original plan.
4
a failure to do something, such as pay a debt, that you legally have to do:

Examples:

default on Defaults on loan repayments have reached 52,000 a month.
Any default on your mortgage payments may mean you will lose your house.
in default of He is not in default of any loan and there is no payment currently due.
default rate The national student loan default rate (= the number of people failing to pay) is estimated at one in ten.
5
happening or existing unless some action is taken:

Examples:

This feature is switched off by default but can easily be activated.
They have assumed the role of peacemakers almost by default.
6
If you win or lose something by default, especially in sport, you win or lose because someone else has failed to do something, for example did not play or complete the game, or because they broke the rules:

Examples:

Since they refuse to reply, I think we've won the argument by default.
The Brazilian won silver by default.
He lost his title by default after refusing to defend it.
7
to fail to do something, such as pay a debt, that you legally have to do:

Examples:

The company defaulted on a $133 million loan.
8
a failure to do something that you legally have to do, such as pay a debt:

Examples:

[ C ] Defaults rose to 4 percent of all the bank’s loans.
9
In sports, to win or lose by default is to win or lose because one side did not compete:

Examples:

[ U ] Humphrey never showed up, so Wilson won by default.
10

Examples:

The default color of text on the screen is black.
11
the fact of not paying interest or other money that is owed on time:

Examples:

Many experts say a default would raise interest rates in the future because the government would be seen as a higher-risk borrower.
Any default on the interest payments will have serious consequences.
Creditors are frequently obliged to terminate the consumer credit agreement because the debtor is in default.
12
the fact of not keeping to an agreement or contract:

Examples:

There will be a joint government review of the agreement if there is any default.
13
the way that something will happen or appear automatically, especially on a computer, if you do not make any different choices:

Examples:

Checking this box means that your computer will now use this printer as the default.
The default is to provide a statement monthly.
This is the default setting, but you can change it by going to the Options menu.
We recommend using the defaults that are already set.
14
happening or done because no formal choice or decision has been made:

Examples:

The fear was that unless IAS was adopted, US accounting principles would become the world standard by default.
15
to fail to pay interest or other money that is owed:

Examples:

default on a payment/a mortgage/your rent If a company defaults on its rent, another tenant can be found.
I have never defaulted or been late with previous payments.
16
to fail to keep to an agreement or contract:

Examples:

default on an agreement/a contract They claimed that education providers had defaulted on their agreement with students to provide a course.
17
to happen or appear automatically in a particular way, if a user does not make a different choice:

Examples:

If you do not enter a value it will default to a delay of 20 seconds.

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