faults
faults — noun
- faultssingular
- faultsesplural
1. a specific wrong action or decision that can be separated from other actions and
a specific wrong action or decision that can be separated from other actions and counted — for example, a miscalculation, a design problem, or an error in a report
The cashier found two faults in the calculation, so the total was wrong.
faults in + noun phrase (calculation, design, report)
Manuela admitted the fault was hers after she forwarded the wrong document.
A small fault in the design meant the shelf would not stay on the wall.
The reviewer listed three faults in the report and asked for changes.
Everyone agreed the fault lay with the company that supplied the wrong parts.
- mistake
general word for any wrong action; does not always carry blame
- error
more formal than fault; often used in writing, computing, or statistics
- shortcoming
focuses on not reaching a standard rather than on blame
用法筆記
Countable: you can say 'a fault' or 'three faults' to refer to individual wrong actions. The uncountable RESPONSIBILITY sense (index 5) does not allow an article and appears only in possessive structures like 'it is my fault.'
常見錯誤
2. a part of a person's nature that makes them less good or less easy to like — for
a part of a person's nature that makes them less good or less easy to like — for example, being selfish, impatient, or dishonest
Adina's only real fault is that she talks too much during meetings.
someone's + only/serious/main + fault + is that-clause
Greed is a serious fault that can destroy friendships and trust.
One fault in his character is that he refuses to accept advice from anyone.
The novel shows how jealousy became the main fault that ruined the family.
用法筆記
Describes a lasting part of a person's personality, not a one-time mistake. Compare with the MISTAKE sense (index 1).
3. a broken or weak part inside a machine, system, or piece of equipment that stops
a broken or weak part inside a machine, system, or piece of equipment that stops it working properly
A fault in the wiring caused the lights to go out across the office.
fault in + part of a machine/system
The mechanic traced the strange noise to a fault in the gearbox.
A tiny fault in the circuit board made the computer shut down at random times.
Defne checked every pipe for a fault that might be causing the leak.
- perfection
state of having no problems at all
- smooth operation
when a machine or system works without any faults
用法筆記
Unlike sense 2, this sense describes a technical or physical problem, not a personal quality.
4. a serve in tennis, volleyball, and similar net sports that fails to land inside
a serve in tennis, volleyball, and similar net sports that fails to land inside the proper area of the court, causing the server to lose a point or try again
Sora double-faulted twice in the final game and lost the match.
double-fault: two faults in a row
The umpire called a fault when the ball landed just outside the service box.
If you serve two faults in a row, the point goes to your opponent.
Camille was upset after serving three faults in her first tennis match.
用法筆記
When a player serves two faults one after the other, this is called a 'double fault' and the server loses the point.
5. uncountable noun expressing the abstract condition of being the person who cause
uncountable noun expressing the abstract condition of being the person who caused something bad to happen; only used in possessive constructions such as 'it is my fault' without the article 'a'
The crash was the driver's fault because he ran a red light.
be + someone's + fault + because-clause
Indra said the argument was entirely her fault and apologized to her brother.
It is not the children's fault that the picnic was cancelled because of rain.
The manager admitted the mistake was his fault and resigned the next day.
Whose fault is it that the package arrived three days late?
- blame
similar in meaning; 'take the blame' is common, but 'blame' is less often used in the 'it is X's blame' construction
- responsibility
broader; can be about positive duties, while fault is only about negative outcomes
- credit
the praise for a good result
文法句型
be + possessive + fault
用法筆記
Always takes a possessive determiner (my, his, their) or 'of': 'the fault of the government.' Unlike sense 1, this sense is uncountable and never takes an article ('a fault').
常見錯誤
6. the object of criticism in the fixed phrase 'find fault with,' which means to ke
the object of criticism in the fixed phrase 'find fault with,' which means to keep noticing and complaining about things that are wrong, especially small or unimportant ones
Ayana's supervisor is always finding fault with her work, even when it is excellent.
find fault with + someone's work/effort/report
It is easy to find fault with others but harder to see your own mistakes.
The critic found fault with every scene in the film except the opening shot.
Teachers who constantly find fault can make students lose their self-confidence.
- praise
to express approval or admiration
- compliment
a polite expression of praise
文法句型
find fault with + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense of 'fault' appears almost only in the fixed phrase 'find fault with + object.' Do not use 'fault' alone to mean 'criticism.'
常見錯誤
7. a break in planetary rock where sections on either side have shifted in opposite
a break in planetary rock where sections on either side have shifted in opposite directions, often linked to earthquake activity
The San Andreas Fault runs for hundreds of miles through California.
proper noun: [Name] Fault
Geologists study ancient faults to predict where earthquakes might happen.
The earthquake opened a new fault in the desert, visible from the air.
Tamar examined the rock layers on either side of the deep fault in the valley.
用法筆記
In this technical sense 'fault' is often capitalized when it is part of a proper name (e.g., the San Andreas Fault).
faults — verb
- faultspresent simple I / you / we / they
- faultses3rd person singular
- faultsing-ing form
- faultsedpast simple
1. to say that someone or something has done something wrong or has a bad quality,
to say that someone or something has done something wrong or has a bad quality, often in a way that seems unfair or too severe
Beatrix's manager faults her for every small mistake in the monthly reports.
fault + someone + for + noun phrase
Critics faulted the movie for its weak script but praised the soundtrack.
Lakshmi faults herself for not preparing more thoroughly before the interview.
You cannot fault a new employee for not knowing every rule on day one.
- criticize
more common in everyday language; less formal than fault
- blame
focuses on responsibility for something bad rather than general criticism
- find fault with
the phrasal equivalent; suggests repeated or unfair criticism
文法句型
fault + noun phrase + for + noun phrase / verb-ing
用法筆記
Often used with 'for' to state the reason for criticism. Less common in everyday speech than 'criticize' or 'blame,' but common in formal reviews and evaluations.
常見錯誤
2. to make an illegal serve in tennis or a similar game, usually by hitting the bal
to make an illegal serve in tennis or a similar game, usually by hitting the ball so that it lands outside the correct area of the court
Matthew faulted twice in a row and lost his serve in the second set.
fault + twice + in a row
The young player faulted on her first serve but won the point on the second.
Even professional tennis players sometimes fault under the pressure of a big match.
Rafael faulted three times during the match and grew more frustrated each time.
- serve a fault
the more common phrasing using the noun form
- double-fault
specific verb meaning to fault twice in a row
用法筆記
Much less common in everyday English than the noun form (TENNIS sense, noun index 4). Most speakers say 'serve a fault' rather than 'fault' as a verb.