failure of integrity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failure of integrity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something does not adhere to ethical or moral principles. Example: "The company's recent scandal was a clear failure of integrity, leading to a loss of trust among its customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"This was a failure of integrity on the part of some of our airmen," she said.

Independent

We see how damaging failure of integrity and authenticity are to the body of Christ.

The New York Times

Enron was the failure of integrity at one company, executives argue, not of the newly liberalized energy markets.

The New York Times

The credit crunch was a "colossal failure of integrity", he said, and philosophy was a discipline that could stop society making the same mistakes again.

The Guardian

Duffy herself offered the answer, and it had nothing to do with poetry: she described Motion's appointment as "a shameful failure of integrity and imagination.

The Guardian - Books

For Muslims to protest against the Danish cartoonists' depiction of the prophet as a terrorist, while carrying placards that threatened another 7/7 atrocity on London, represented a nihilistic failure of integrity.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Thankfully, the spectacular failures of integrity we have seen in the financial sector have not been replicated in higher education, but this research highlights the sector's need to engage more explicitly with integrity in micropolitical behaviour.

The Guardian

Among psychologists he preferred the restlessly inquisitive William James to Freud, whose faults, he held, were grounded in failures of integrity as a humanistic investigator rather than in failures of scientific method.

Independent

Calculation of the maximum storage pressure within safety limits using the integrity and shear criteria reveals that failure of caprock integrity increases with the amount of CO2 injected.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

The failure of well integrity may cause undesirable events or even devastating consequences such as safety hazards or loss of containment.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Failure of wellbore integrity leads not only to negative financial consequences, but also potentially to significant environmental impacts, such as groundwater contamination, gas leakage to the atmosphere, and fluid spills and seepage at the surface.

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failure of integrity", consider specifying the area or aspect of integrity that has failed to provide more context and clarity. For example, "failure of financial integrity" or "failure of journalistic integrity".

Common error

Avoid attributing a "failure of integrity" to broad societal trends without providing specific evidence. Focus on the particular actions or decisions that demonstrate the lack of integrity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failure of integrity" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig indicates it describes a situation or instance where ethical and moral principles are not upheld.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failure of integrity" is a noun phrase used to describe a situation where ethical or moral principles are not upheld. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While interchangeable with phrases like "breach of integrity" or "lack of integrity", it's important to consider the specific context and nuance you want to convey. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, often in discussions of ethical breaches in business, politics, or other areas of public life. Pay attention to specifying the area of integrity that has failed when using the term to ensure clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

breach of integrity

Replaces "failure" with "breach", focusing on the act of violating integrity.

lack of integrity

Emphasizes the absence of integrity rather than the failure.

erosion of integrity

Suggests a gradual decline in integrity.

compromised integrity

Indicates that integrity has been weakened or damaged.

ethical breakdown

Focuses on the ethical dimension of the failure.

moral lapse

Highlights a temporary deviation from moral standards.

ethical violation

Emphasizes the transgression of ethical rules.

corruption

Points to a deeper, more systemic failure of integrity, often involving abuse of power.

dishonesty

Focuses specifically on the lack of truthfulness.

unethical conduct

Highlights behavior that does not conform to ethical standards.

FAQs

What does "failure of integrity" mean?

A "failure of integrity" refers to a situation where an individual, organization, or system does not adhere to ethical and moral principles, leading to a loss of trustworthiness and ethical standards. It signifies a deviation from honesty, transparency, and accountability.

What are some examples of "failure of integrity" in business?

Examples of "failure of integrity" in business can include fraudulent accounting practices, insider trading, bribery, and misrepresentation of products or services. These actions undermine trust and can lead to significant financial and reputational damage.

How does "failure of integrity" differ from "lack of integrity"?

While both terms are closely related, "failure of integrity" often implies a specific instance or event where integrity was compromised, whereas "lack of integrity" suggests a general absence or deficiency of moral principles over time. The former is more event-focused, while the latter describes a character trait.

What can I say instead of "failure of integrity"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "breach of integrity", "ethical violation", or "moral lapse". The best choice will depend on the specific nuance you want to convey.