fail open

verb

Of an access control system: to automatically let all traffic through in the case of a failure. For example, an emergency door unlocking in the event of a power outage.

“Coordinate term: fail closed”

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Meanings

verbfail open (third-person singular simple present fails open, present participle failing open, simple past and past participle failed open)

present singular third person fails open · participle present failing open · participle past failed open · past failed open

  1. Of an access control system: to automatically let all traffic through in the case of a failure. For example, an emergency door unlocking in the event of a power outage.

    Coordinate term: fail closed

Cite this entry
APA

fail open. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fail%20open

MLA

“fail open.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fail%20open. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fail open,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fail%20open.

Source: fail open on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.