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   fault

   /fɔːlt/

   noun

   • 1. an unattractive or unsatisfactory feature, especially in a piece of work or in a person's character: "my worst fault is impatience"
   • ▪ a break or other defect in an electric circuit or piece of machinery: "a fire caused by an electrical fault" Similar defectflawimperfectionsnagerrormistakeinaccuracyoversightblundergaffeslipbuginformal:glitchgremlinslip-upboo-boohowlerfoul-upcock-upboobclangersnarl-up
   • ▪ a misguided action or habit: "the fault of the keen therapist is to start to intervene during the assessment phase" Similar defectfailingimperfectionflawblemishshortcomingweaknessweak pointweak spotfrailtyfoiblevicelimitationlackdeficiencyAchilles heelchink in one's armourOpposite meritstrength
   • ▪ (in tennis and similar games) a service of the ball not in accordance with the rules.
   • ▪ (in showjumping) a penalty point imposed for an error.
   • 2. responsibility for an accident or misfortune: "if books were not selling, it wasn't the fault of the publishers" Similar responsibilityliabilityculpabilityblameworthinessguiltaccountabilityanswerabilityinformal:rap
   • 3. an extended break in a rock formation, marked by the relative displacement and discontinuity of strata on either side of a particular plane: "a landscape broken by numerous faults"

   verb

   • 1. criticize for inadequacy or mistakes: "her superiors could not fault her dedication to the job"
   • ▪ do wrong: archaic "the people of Caesarea faulted greatly when they called King Herod a god"
   • 2. (of a rock formation) be broken by a fault or faults: "the continental crust has been thinned and faulted as a result of geological processes"

   Word Origin Middle Englishfaut(e) ‘lack, failing’, from Old French, based on Latin fallere ‘deceive’. The -l- was added (in French and English) in the 15th century to conform with the Latin word, but did not become standard in English until the 17th century, remaining silent in pronunciation until well into the 18th.

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • F

     4

   • A

     1

   • U

     1

   • L

     1

   • T

     1

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