failure

The word “failure” means the state of not achieving a desired or intended result. In plain terms, not succeeding, or something/someone that hasn't succeeded — including a medical sense for an organ shutting down.

“Failure” is pronounced FAY-lyuh (/ˈfeɪ.ljəɹ/ in IPA).

Here is “failure” used in a sentence: “The launch ended in complete failure.”

Words with a similar meaning to “failure” include fail.

The opposite of “failure” — its antonyms — are success and triumph.

“Failure” is a noun.

The word “failure” comes from Old French. From Anglo-Norman failer, from Old French faillir, "to fail," combined with the suffix "-ure.".

“Failure” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

The opposite of failure is success — achieving the result you set out to reach. Related positives include triumph, victory, and achievement. Failure and success are often treated as two ends of the same scale, though many people point out that failure can be a step on the road toward eventual success.

A mistake is a single wrong action or error — choosing the wrong word, taking a wrong turn. Failure is the broader outcome of not achieving what you intended, which may result from one mistake or many. You can make a mistake and still succeed; failure is about the final result falling short.

Not necessarily. Failure means falling short of a goal, which is disappointing, but it is also one of the most common ways people learn and improve. Many inventors, athletes, and entrepreneurs describe failure as essential practice. The outcome is negative, yet what you take from it can be genuinely valuable.

The word covers many situations: personal failure to reach a goal, business or financial failure such as a company collapsing, technical failure like an engine or power failure, and academic failure such as not passing an exam. In each case, something has not worked or not achieved its purpose.