Other forms: defaulted, defaults, defaulting
To default is to fail to make the repayments you agreed to. Default on a loan, in default, a default notice.
It is a formal event with consequences: a default is recorded, affects credit for six years in Britain, and may let a lender demand the whole balance. A country can default on its debt too. In computing, the default is the setting that applies unless you change it, and defaults matter enormously because most people never do. Note by default, meaning through nobody else acting.
1verbdefaultTo fail to make the repayments you agreed to.
“If you default on your loan, the bank may take your house.”
2nounsettingThe setting that applies unless you change it.
“You can change the default font in the settings menu.”
default is a failure or a standard setting.
Old French defaute means a failure or lack, from Latin de- plus fallere, to deceive or fail. Fault, false and fail come from the same failing.
Latin
de- — away
Old French
defaute — fault, defect, failure, culpability, lack
Middle English
defaute
English, today
default
Built from
From Middle English defaute, from Old French defaute (“fault, defect, failure, culpability, lack”), ultimately from Latin de- (“away”) + fallo (“deceive, cheat, escape notice of”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA