Meanings
nounfault line (plural fault lines)
plural fault lines · alternative faultline · alternative fault-line
- geographyThe line formed by the intersection of the plane of a fault with the surface of the Earth.
- broadlyA minor split (in public opinion, etc.) that may develop into something larger.
Yet the process may lead to new fault lines and resentments across the notoriously unstable Lebanese political system whose 18 different confessional groups share all levels of power.
2016 October 22, Rami G Khouri, “Lebanese oligarchy preserves its interests once again”, in Aljazeera
Translations
Arabic خط الصدع
- خط الصدعgeology: intersection
Finnish siirroslinja, siirros
- siirroslinjageology: intersection
- siirrosgeology: intersection
French ligne de faille
- ligne de faillegeology: intersection
Hungarian törésvonal
- törésvonalgeology: intersection
Irish éasclíne
- éasclínegeology: intersection
Italian linea di faglia
- linea di fagliageology: intersection
Māori ripa hapa
- ripa hapageology: intersection
Polish linia uskoku
- linia uskokugeology: intersection
Turkish fay hattı
- fay hattıgeology: intersection
Cite this entry
APA
fault line. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fault%20line
MLA
“fault line.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fault%20line. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fault line,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fault%20line.
Source: fault line on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.