à défaut de

/a de.fo də/

preposition B1

le (masc.) la (fem.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Prep Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Common Domain General Tone Neutral
Word fingerprint: Register: neutral. Era: current. Frequency: common. Domain: general. Connotation: neutral.

Meaning

  1. failing that, in the absence of

    • À défaut de pain, elle sert des biscottes.

      In the absence of bread, she serves crackers.

Practice

1 What does à défaut de mean?

2 Fill the gap: À ___ de pain, elle sert des biscottes.

preposition

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