1. (n.) An omission of that which ought to be done; as, a default on a loan; a victory by default\; neglect to do what duty or law requires; as, this evil has happened through the governor's default.

2. (n.) Fault; offense; ill deed; wrong act; failure in virtue or wisdom.

3. (n.) A neglect of, or failure to take, some step necessary to secure the benefit of law, as a failure to appear in court at a day assigned, especially of the defendant in a suit when called to make answer; also of jurors, witnesses, etc.

4. (v. i.) To fail in duty; to offend.

5. (v. i.) To fail in fulfilling a contract, agreement, or duty.

6. (v. i.) To fail to appear in court; to let a case go by default.

7. (v. t.) To fail to perform or pay; to be guilty of neglect of; to omit; as, to default a dividend.

8. (v. t.) To call a defendant or other party whose duty it is to be present in court, and make entry of his default, if he fails to appear; to enter a default against.

9. (v. t.) To leave out of account; to omit.

AWOL French leave abscondence absence absence without leave absentation absenteeism absenting arrear arrearage arrears back debts back payments bad debt be absent be bereaved of be caught napping be neglectful be negligent bouncing check come up short culpa culpable negligence cut day off dearth decline defalcation defect defection defectiveness deferred payments deficiency deficit deficit financing delinquence delinquency departure dereliction disallow disappearance disconformity dishonor dishonoring disregard dollar gap drop escape excused absence fail fail to appear failure fall short falling short fault fleeing forfeit furlough gloss over go astray from holiday hooky ignore imperfection inaction inadequacy inadvertence inadvertency inattention incur loss inferiority inobservance insufficiency keep away kiss good-bye laches lack laissez-faire lapse laxity laxness leave leave of absence leaving let go let ride let slide let slip levant looseness lose lose out lose sight of lose track of mislay misplace miss neglect neglectfulness negligence nod nonadherence nonappearance nonattendance noncompliance nonconformance nonconformity nondischarge of debts nonfeasance nonfulfillment noninterference nonobservance nonpayment nonperformance nonremittal nonrestriction not care for not come not get involved not heed not pay not show up not think omission overdraft overlook overlooking oversight pass over permissiveness poor stewardship privation procrastination protest protested bill refuse to pay remissness repudiate repudiation running away sabbatical leave sacrifice short measure shortage shortcoming shortfall sick leave slackness sleep slight slump stop payment suffer loss take for granted truancy truantism turn up missing uncollectible underage undergo privation unexcused absence unobservance unrigorousness vacation wander from want weakness welsh