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Fault vs Failing - What's the difference?

fault | failing | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between fault and failing

is that fault is a defect; something that detracts from perfection while failing is weakness; defect.

As verbs the difference between fault and failing

is that fault is to criticize, blame or find fault with something or someone while failing is present participle of lang=en.

As a preposition failing is

if the preferred or prior option is not possible.

fault

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A defect; something that detracts from perfection.
  • * Shakespeare
    • As patches set upon a little breach / Discredit more in hiding of the fault .
  • A mistake or error.
    • No!. This is my fault, not yours
  • A weakness of character; a failing.
    • For all her faults , she's a good person at heart.
  • A minor offense.
  • Blame; the responsibility for a mistake.
    • The fault lies with you.
  • (seismology) A fracture in a rock formation causing a discontinuity.
  • (mining) In coal seams, coal rendered worthless by impurities in the seam.
    • slate fault''', dirt '''fault , etc.
    (Raymond)
  • (tennis) An illegal serve.
  • (electrical) An abnormal connection in a circuit.
  • (obsolete) want; lack
  • * Shakespeare
    • one, it pleases me, for fault of a better, to call my friend
  • (hunting) A lost scent; act of losing the scent.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Ceasing their clamorous cry till they have singled, / With much ado, the cold fault clearly out.

    Derived terms

    * at fault * double fault * to a fault

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To criticize, blame or find fault with something or someone.
  • * Traditional song
    • For that I will not fault thee / But for humbleness exalt thee.
  • (geology) To fracture.
  • To commit a mistake or error.
  • (computing) To undergo a page fault.
  • * 2002 , Æleen Frisch, Essential system administration
    • When a page is read in, a few pages surrounding the faulted page are typically loaded as well in the same I/O operation in an effort to head off future page faults.

    failing

    English

    Verb

    (head)

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • weakness; defect
    • His worst failing is his temper.

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • if the preferred or prior option is not possible
    • A large proportion of the females employed in other firms are said to have signified their intention of going on strike, failing a settlement.