n. A failing or failure; an omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty, obligation, or law requires; specifically, in law, a failure to perform a required act in a lawsuit within the required time, as to plead or appear in court, or omission to meet a pecuniary obligation when due.n. Lack; want; failure; defect.n. A fault; an offense; a misdeed; a wrong act.n. In hunting, a lost scent.To fail in fulfilling or satisfying an engagement, claim, or obligation; especially, to fail in meeting a legal or pecuniary obligation at the proper time, as appearance in court, the payment of a debt, or the accounting for funds intrusted to one's care: as, a defaulting defendant or debtor; he has defaulted on his bond, or in his trust.To fail in duty; offend.To omit; neglect.To fail in the performance of.In law, to declare (a defendant) in default and enter judgment against (him).