fault-tolerant

adjective

fault-tol·​er·​ant ˈfȯlt-ˌtä-lə-rənt How to pronounce fault-tolerant (audio)
: relating to or being a computer or program with a self-contained backup system that allows continued operation when major components fail
fault tolerance noun

Examples of fault-tolerant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An important milestone in this path is a fault-tolerant computer with over 100 million gates running on 200 qubits. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026 PsiQuantum’s methodology is based on semiconductor-style manufacturing techniques and photonic qubits, aiming to build a fault-tolerant machine instead of just making NISQ processors larger. — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 This story has been updated to reflect that IBM is developing the first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029. — Samantha Subin,katie Tarasov, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fault-tolerant

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fault-tolerant was in 1975

Rhymes for fault-tolerant

See All Rhymes for fault-tolerant

Browse Nearby Words

fault terrace
fault-tolerant
fault trace
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fault-tolerant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fault-tolerant. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All