terminal failure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "terminal failure" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in technical contexts, particularly in computing or engineering, to describe a situation where a system or component has completely failed and cannot be recovered. Example: "The system experienced a terminal failure, resulting in the loss of all unsaved data."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Terminal failure is explained in terms of a new mechanism involving the bending of "splay cracks" under frictional sliding.

Acta Materialia

The results show that the internal friction coefficient that governs terminal failure is closely similar to the coefficient of static friction across the fault.

Acta Materialia

Terminal failure is characterized by a sudden brittle-like drop in load, localized heating and the development of a narrow shear band, consisting of recrystallized grains, oriented on a plane of maximum shear.

Acta Materialia

A first-order calculation shows that the stress required to break the columns and thus to initiate the fault is of the same order of magnitude as the terminal failure stress.

Acta Materialia

The results and analysis show that under higher confinement (σ22/σ11 > 0.2) where terminal failure occurs via across-column cleavage and spalling out of the loading plane, a combination of wing crack growth and Euler buckling of deformation-induced thin plates underlies the process.

Acta Materialia

Systematic experiments on laboratory-grown polycrystalline granular ice and columnar S2 ice loaded triaxially under a high degree of confinement at T = −10 °C to T = −40 °C at applied strain rates ε˙11="1×10-5s-1 to ε˙11="2×10-1showshow the mechanical response and microstructural evolution leading to terminal failure.

Acta Materialia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Artificial implanted organs are an attractive solution to terminal failures of organs such as pancreas, urinary sphincters, kidneys or heart, but their development is thwarted by the problem of their energy supply.

Plosone

Biaxial compressive experiments of terminal and post-terminal failure have been performed at −3 and −10 °C on columnar-grained, S2 freshwater ice proportionally loaded across the columns under moderate confinement where Coulombic faulting limits the terminal strength.

Acta Materialia

In 2/16 ATD-treated patients, the drugs (MM 20 mg/day and PTU 250 mg/day, respectively) were not discontinued in time, and they developed terminal renal failure and chronic renal failure, respectively.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

The doctors have described the man as a diabetic who was in dire condition before the implant with terminal heart failure, a moderate degree of kidney failure and abnormally high pressure in blood vessels in his lungs.

The New York Times

Thirteen of the 56 IV patients died and eight developed terminal renal failure, whereas there were no deaths and only one terminal renal failure in the DIV group.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "terminal failure", ensure the context clearly indicates the system or component that has failed. Specify the cause of the failure if known, to provide a complete picture of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "terminal failure" in casual conversation or writing where simpler terms like "breakdown" or "failure" would suffice. This phrase is best reserved for technical, medical, or formal contexts where precision is important.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "terminal failure" functions as a noun phrase typically used to describe a state of irreversible malfunction or breakdown in a system or component. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "terminal failure" is a grammatically sound noun phrase primarily used in technical and medical contexts to describe a state of irreversible breakdown. While the phrase is not exceedingly common, as shown by Ludwig's examples, its function is to convey the severity and finality of a malfunction. When writing, reserve "terminal failure" for precise contexts where its technical meaning is appropriate, and consider alternatives like "complete breakdown" or "catastrophic malfunction" for broader applicability. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is considered grammatically correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complete breakdown

Emphasizes the total cessation of functionality.

catastrophic malfunction

Highlights the severely damaging nature of the failure.

irrecoverable breakdown

Stresses the inability to restore the system or component to working order.

end-stage malfunction

Implies a progression towards a final state of non-functionality.

ultimate breakdown

Indicates a final and irreversible failure.

critical failure

Focuses on the severity and importance of the failure.

system-wide failure

Highlights the broad impact of the failure across an entire system.

total system loss

Emphasizes the complete loss of the system's functionality.

final cessation

Focuses on the ending of operation or function.

fatal flaw

Highlights an inherent defect that inevitably leads to failure.

FAQs

How to use "terminal failure" in a sentence?

Use "terminal failure" to describe a complete and irreversible breakdown of a system or component. For example: "The server experienced a terminal failure resulting in data loss."

What can I say instead of "terminal failure"?

You can use alternatives like "complete breakdown", "catastrophic malfunction", or "irrecoverable breakdown" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "terminal failure" or "complete failure"?

"Terminal failure" implies a finality and irreversibility often associated with the end of a process or lifespan, while "complete failure" simply means that something has entirely failed, without necessarily implying it is irreversible.

Is "terminal failure" only used in medical contexts?

No, while "terminal" is often associated with medical terminology, "terminal failure" is used in various technical fields to describe the end-stage malfunction of systems or components, not only in the medical field.