failure (noun)
1: an act that fails; "his failure to pass the test"
2: an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose; "the surprise party was a complete failure" [ant: success]
3: lack of success; "he felt that his entire life had been a failure"; "that year there was a crop failure" [ant: success]
4: a person with a record of failing; someone who loses consistently [syn: loser, nonstarter, [[unsuccessful person]]] [ant: achiever]
5: an unexpected omission; "he resented my failure to return his call"; "the mechanic's failure to check the brakes"
6: inability to discharge all your debts as they come due; "the company had to declare bankruptcy"; "fraudulent loans led to the failure of many banks" [syn: bankruptcy]
7: loss of ability to function normally; "kidney failure"