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to default on

to default on

28 6.6
Fail to pay money you owe on a loan or debt when required
  • phrasal verb
  • /dɪˈfɔlt ɑn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : incumplir el pago de
  • Greece's budget deficit of nine percent of GDP is too large to avoid an outright default on its national debt.
  • default on loans
  • default on debt
  • default on payments

Never defaulted on mortgages, loans or anything.

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Examples

  • If developed countries default on this loan, why should developing countries have any responsibility for paying their loans either?

    Academic text (2011)
  • A majority of subprime auto borrowers with these purchasing characteristics default on their loans.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Do you know what happens when you default on a loan?

  • And by Christmas he had defaulted on his payments and the bank took his house.

  • Tenants who lost their jobs or capital had to either sell or default on their apartments.

    Academic text (2004)
  • In particular, when a buyer defaults on payments.

  • Ms. Williams, who supported seven children and received government aid, defaulted on her payments for a stereo.

    Academic text (2018)
  • The country was on the verge of defaulting on its international commitments.

    Academic text (1994)
  • However, the bad thing is that, well, this is risky for you because if you default on your HELOC payments, then your home will be at risk.

  • If you default on your loan, the bank may take legal action against you.

Synonyms

to default
vsto default on
  • Specialized
55 6.7

Fail to pay money you owe on a loan

means the same but is used with a following preposition

Antonyms

805 1.0

Money given for goods, services, or to settle a debt

How Delinquent

to declare bankrupt
  • Formal
1 5.4
to default on
  • Specialized
28 6.6
in arrears
  • Formal
4 7.4

Surface Forms

default on infinitive
defaulted on past participle
defaulting on present participle
defaults on third person singular

Morphology

default + on

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from the verb 'default' (to fail to meet a payment) with the preposition 'on' marking the target (e.g., a loan). This is a straightforward verb + preposition construction following normal English patterns, so a learner who knows the constituent meanings can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The verb default on comes from a simple image: someone defaults on a duty placed on them, like missing a loan payment. So default on means 'to fail to make a required payment'.