1. default - Noun
2. default - Verb
A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires; as, this evil has happened through the governor's default.
Fault; offense; ill deed; wrong act; failure in virtue or wisdom.
A neglect of, or failure to take, some step necessary to secure the benefit of law, as a failure to appear in court at a day assigned, especially of the defendant in a suit when called to make answer; also of jurors, witnesses, etc.
To fail in duty; to offend.
To fail in fulfilling a contract, agreement, or duty.
To fail to appear in court; to let a case go by default.
To fail to perform or pay; to be guilty of neglect of; to omit; as, to default a dividend.
To call a defendant or other party whose duty it is to be present in court, and make entry of his default, if he fails to appear; to enter a default against.
To leave out of account; to omit.
Source: Webster's dictionaryIt is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default. J. K. Rowling
The thing I always default to is that I'll always be here to write songs. Alanis Morissette
Just because science so far has failed to explain something, such as consciousness, to say it follows that the facile, pathetic explanations which religion has produced somehow by default must win the argument is really quite ridiculous. Richard Dawkins
Effectiveness is doing the things that get you closer to your goals. Efficiency is performing a given task (whether important or not) in the most economical manner possible. Being efficient without regard to effectiveness is the default mode of the universe. Timothy Ferriss
In default of bread, meal cakes are good. Portuguese Proverb
You will not rise to the occasion, you will default to the level of your training. English Proverb