Failure to fulfill an obligation, especially to repay a loan or appear in a court of law. The company faced severe financial penalties due to its default on the loan.
A preselected option adopted by a computer program or other mechanism when no alternative is specified by the user or programmer. The software's default settings can be changed to suit the user's preferences.
A loss, victory, or outcome recorded because one party fails to take part in a contest or to meet a required condition (especially in sports or law). The tennis player advanced to the next round on a default when her opponent withdrew.
Absence or lack of something required or normally present. In default of any opposition, the motion was carried unanimously.