double fault

American

noun

(in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) two faults in succession, resulting in the loss of the point, the loss of the serve, or both.

double fault British

noun

the serving of two faults in succession, thereby losing a point

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

(intr) to serve a double fault

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of double fault

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Gauff once again faced issues with her serve and finished the match with 12 double faults.

From Barron's

On show too were the lapses in concentration, none more egregious than a double fault in the second set that sent the match to a decider.

From BBC

They both opened with comfortable holds before a double fault and netted forehand presented the first break point chance for Djokovic at 2-1.

From Barron's

She reset to break Pegula's hitherto dominant serve, but was broken back straight away with her fourth double fault of the contest.

From Barron's

But Anisimova was annoyed with herself too, as she totted up 44 unforced errors to Pegula's 21 and made seven double faults.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023