A person who fails to pay a debt, meet a legal obligation, or fulfill a required duty.
From default + -er (agent noun). This term crystallized in English legal and financial vocabulary to name the person committing the failure.
In colonial India and other historical contexts, 'defaulters' were public enemies—names were posted, property was seized, and entire families could be ruined. The word carries the weight of legal power and social shame throughout history.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.