In contract law, what term describes a failure to perform a contractual duty?

In contract law, the term that describes a failure to perform a contractual duty is "Breach of Contract." A breach occurs when one party fails to fulfill its obligations under the terms of the contract, whether intentionally or through negligence. This can include not delivering goods or services as promised, not making payments, or failing to meet deadlines.

A breach can be classified as either a material breach, which significantly affects the contract's essence, or a minor breach, which does not undermine the overall agreement. The consequences of a breach can include legal action and the possibility of the non-breaching party seeking damages or specific performance based on the terms of the contract.

While terms like "default," "termination," and "cancellation" do relate to contract enforcement and can indicate issues with performance, they do not specifically define the failure to perform a contractual duty in the same way. "Default" may imply a specific type of failure often seen in loan or credit agreements, while "termination" and "cancellation" usually refer to ending the contract rather than the act of failing to fulfill its obligations.