fault

About This Root

From Old French faulte (deficiency, failure), from Latin fallita (failed), feminine past participle of fallere (to deceive). Produces fault (a defect or blame), faulty (defective), faultless (without defect), and faultfinder (one who seeks errors). In geology, a fault is where rock layers have "failed" and shifted — a vivid extension of the root.

Associated Words