From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdefaultde‧fault1 /dɪˈfɔːlt $ -ˈfɒːlt/ ●○○ noun 1 → by default2 [countable, uncountable] formalNOT DO something failure to pay money that you owe at the right timein default The company is in default on its loan agreement.default in The bank can seize the asset in the event of a default in payment. the risk of default by borrowers3 [uncountable] lawNOT DO something failure to do something that you are supposed to do according to the law or because it is your duty4 [countable usually singular]TD technical the way in which things are arranged on a computer screen unless you decide to change them You can change the default settings to suit your needs.5 [singular] the usual and expected way in which something is done, unless you decide to do something different This way of working seems to be the default these days.6 → in default of something
Examples from the Corpus
default• The state government will pay off the mortgage in the event of a default.• These attributes include maturity, currency of denomination, place of repayment, and default sensitivity.• The Allies, however, had no intention of letting the armistice arrangements slide by default into a full-blown peace.• Pichnarczyk noted most computers' default configurations are set to prevent the automatic execution of an attached file when delivered via e-mail.• These codes are built into the system and control default fonts, typefaces, sizes and column measures.• Option 2, Set Initial settings, affects all of the document creation and editing default settings.• The government could then instruct all banks not to push companies into default and not to dispose of any collateral.• Loans are often refused to poorer borrowers because the risk of default is greater.• Agency is irrelevant unless there has been some default on the part of the agent which can be attributed to the principal.• Type the first paragraph using the default paragraph format. 3.in default• The loan is in default.default settings• Option 2, Set Initial settings, affects all of the document creation and editing default settings.• This chapter describes how to change the default settings to suit your own needs.• The commands a modem understands vary slightly among brands, as do the default settings.• In the example given below for each entry, the default settings are used when a parameter is omitted.• Leave those in the default settings and go back when you understand the questions and know your demands.• Using the default settings, a new page starts after every 54 lines.• the default settings for my printer• Task 14 Objective To reformat paragraphs Paragraph reformatting ... This means changing the appearance and/or position of paragraphs from their default settings.• You can do direct colour photo-copying using this set-up and the scanner will give one button scans using default settings. defaultdefault2 verb [intransitive] 1 NOT DO somethingto fail to pay money that you owe at the right timedefault on He defaulted on his child support payments.2 to not do something that you are supposed to do, especially that you are legally supposed to do —defaulter noun [countable]→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
default• The interest rates on junk bonds are higher because they are considered more likely to default. 12.• Congress also has shifted from direct loans to loan guarantees: promises to pay back private bank loans if the borrowers default.• The banks helped to fund a loan-loss reserve of $ 24,000 in case any borrower were to default.• They created machinery to avoid extending them to those whose ascertainable record showed them to be untrustworthy and likely to default.• When violating marriage vows carries less legal weight than defaulting On a car loan, why should people bother?• In those days, anyone who defaulted on a loan was put in prison.• Meanwhile, some of the 70-plus councils involved in such deals have felt forced to default on payments due.• If you default on your loan, the bank can sell the car and recoup the rest of its money.• A further advantage seems to be the continued response in patients who are defaulting regularly.• If the purchaser defaults, the house becomes the property of the savings and loan company.default on• More than 35% of students defaulted on their loans.From Longman Business Dictionarydefaultde‧fault1 /dɪˈfɒlt-ˈfɒːlt/ noun1by default if something happens or is decided by default, it happens or is decided in that way because you did not do anything to change itThey won the last election by default.2FINANCE [countable, uncountable] when someone fails to pay money that they owe at the right timeAn asset can be repossessed by a lessor in the event of a default on the lease payments.The banks have decided that the company is in default on its loan agreements.3[uncountable]LAW when someone fails to do something that it is their duty to doThe contract includes provisions for loss and expense suffered by the contractors due to default by the employer.4[uncountable]LAW when someone fails to come to court or make a written statement when they are supposed toThe defendant will have to explain his default and satisfy the court that he has a defence which ought to be heard.5[countable, uncountable]COMPUTING the way in which things will be arranged on a computer screen or done by a computer unless you change themIf the defaults are acceptable the user can just press Return.This icon appears by default.The default margin settings are 1.25 each for a page 8.5 wide.defaultdefault2 verb [intransitive]1FINANCEBANKINGto fail to pay money that you owe at the right timeThe Act covered what mortgage lenders could do to recover their money if borrowers defaulted.default onHe defaulted on his child support payments.2LAW to not do something that it is your duty to doIf a party defaults in its obligations to the project, then the party’s right to continue participating in the project shall be terminated.3COMPUTING if a computer program defaults to a particular thing, it does that thing unless you instruct it to do something elsedefault toMicrosoft Word will default to starting each new line with a capital letter unless you customize the settings.→ See Verb tableOrigin default1 (1200-1300) Old French defaute, from Vulgar Latin defallere “to be lacking, fail” 