Noun

(uncountable) The state of a society being without authorities or an authoritative governing body.

(uncountable) Anarchism]]; the political theory that a community is best [[organize, organized by the voluntary cooperation of individuals, rather than by a government, which is regarded as being coercive by nature.

(countable) A chaotic and confusing absence of any form of political authority or government.

Confusion in general; disorder.

Noun

(en noun)

(finance) The condition of failing to meet an obligation.

He failed to make payments on time and is now in default .

You may cure this default by paying the full amount within a week.

(electronics, computing) the original software programming settings as set by the factory

A loss incurred by failing to compete.

The team's three losses include one default .

A selection made in the absence of an alternative.

''The man became the leader of the group as a default .

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=December 15 , author=Felicity Cloake , title=How to cook the perfect nut roast , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage=One of the darlings of the early vegetarian movement (particularly in its even sadder form, the cutlet), it was on the menu at John Harvey Kellogg's Battle Creek Sanitarium [sic], and has since become the default Sunday option for vegetarians – and a default source of derision for everyone else.}}

(often, attributive) A value used when none has been given; a tentative value or standard that is presumed.

If you don't specify a number of items, the default is 1.

(legal) The failure of a defendant to appear and answer a summons and complaint.

(obsolete) A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires.

This evil has happened through the governor's default .

(obsolete) Fault; offence; wrong act.

* Spenser

And pardon craved for his so rash default .

* Alexander Pope

regardless of our merit or default