fault line

noun

: something resembling a fault : split, rift
a major conceptual fault line in foreign policyMorton Kondracke

Examples of fault line 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.
Isolated and suffocating under the weight of their circumstances, the fault lines of the married couple’s relationship are exposed. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2025 Taiwan has wild pockets of hot springs all over the island, thanks to its location on a tectonic fault line with frequent volcanic activity. Clarissa Wei, AFAR Media, 3 Feb. 2025 Greece sits on multiple fault lines and is often rattled by earthquakes. Reuters, NBC News, 3 Feb. 2025 Mighty is a warm and often perceptive figure who offers more insight on the social tensions and fault lines in Ruston than anyone else in the film. Guy Lodge, Variety, 1 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fault line

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fault line was in 1869

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Cite this Entry

“Fault line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fault%20line. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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