noun

failover

/ˈfeɪlˌoʊvər/ · say it: FAYL·oh·ver

automatically switching to a backup system on failure

In more detail

1. (noun) the automatic process by which a system switches to a backup system when the main system fails or becomes unavailable

2. (noun) the backup system itself that takes over when the primary system stops working

Examples

1. The server has failover capabilities, so if one machine goes down, another automatically takes its place.
2. The company relies on failover systems to ensure their website stays online 24/7.

How to use failover

Failover is a technical term used primarily in IT and systems engineering to describe both the automatic switching process and the backup infrastructure itself. It is commonly discussed in contexts of system reliability, disaster recovery, and high-availability architecture. The term emphasizes automation and redundancy rather than manual intervention.

Common phrases

failover mechanism
automatic failover
failover system
trigger failover
failover process
failover occurs

Synonyms

switchover · backup · redundancy · failsafe · fallback

Word family

fail over (verb) · failover (noun) · failover (adjective, as in failover server)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse failover with simply having a backup; failover specifically implies automatic or rapid switching when failure occurs, not merely the existence of a spare system.

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