fails open

A form of fail open — 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.

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Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of fail open
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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