default在法律文件中常见两种译法:

(1) 违约，如event of default违约事件；cross-default交叉违约；defaulting party违约方，non-defaulting party非违约方等。这里还要提到另外一个词，breach，如breach of a contract违约，其与default之间有什么区别呢？这一点将在以下内容中呈现。

(2) 拖欠，如default interest拖欠利息；default amount拖欠金额等。此外，表达拖欠的词还有：be in arrears，例如be in arrears with the rent拖欠房租等。

default作违约讲时，其与breach的区别：

就一般性法律术语而言，二者并无实质性区别，均表示合同当事一方未能履行其合同性义务。那么二者的区别究竟是什么？在什么情况下会有区别？下面先参考国外某网站的一段话：

"It's entirely possible that the terms "breach" and "default" may have different meanings within the context of a contract. For example, assume you have a lease that not only establishes how long a renter may use a property and the rental rate, but also limits the use of the property to commercial purposes. The lease may define a renter who's not paying his rent as defaulting, but define him using the property for residential purposes as a breach. A renter may be in default but not in breach of contract, and vice versa. Carefully review the contract to see if it applies a specific definition to these terms."

上面这段话的大意是：

breach和default在合同内容中会有不同的含义是完全有可能的。例如：假设你有一份租约，该租约不但确定了承租人使用房产的时长以及租金率，而且限定房产用于商业目的。租约将承租人未能支付租金的行为定义为“default”，而将该承租人把房产用于居住之目的定义为“breach”。承租人有可能出现“default”，但是不一定会出现“breach”，反之亦然。

违约---例句：

如果任一股东从事或遭受了违约事件，则另一股东有权自主决定在违约事件发生之日起10天内的任何时候，书面通知违约方要求出售期持有或受益拥有的全部股份，并说明其已经行使了本条款所赋予的选择权。

If any Shareholder commits or suffers an Event of Default, then the other Shareholder shall be entitled in its entire discretion to require the Defaulting Party to sell all of the Shares held or beneficially owned by the Defaulting Party by delivering written notice to the Defaulting Party stating that the option hereby conferred is exercised at any time within 10 days for the date of the occurrence of such Event of Default.

拖欠---例句：

若债务人未能在到期日根据融资文件支付到期应付的任何款项，则应按拖欠利率自到期日起至实际支付日就未付金额计收利息。

If an Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the Unpaid Sum from the due date up to the date of actual payment at the default rate.