Failure means not succeeding at something you tried to do. When a science experiment fails, the results don't match what you predicted. When a business fails, it runs out of money and has to close. When you fail a test, your score falls below passing.

Failure feels discouraging, but it's a normal part of learning and trying new things. Thomas Edison failed many times before inventing a working light bulb. The Wright brothers crashed many prototype airplanes before achieving the first successful flight. Every person who has accomplished something difficult has failed along the way, often many times.

Some people give up after failing. Others examine what went wrong, adjust their approach, and try again. Scientists expect experiments to fail because each failure teaches them something valuable about what doesn't work and brings them closer to what does.

When someone fails at something, they can let the failure define them, or let it teach them. A student who fails a math test can study differently next time. An athlete who fails to make the team can practice harder. Failure stings, but it's information, not a permanent verdict about who you are or what you can achieve.