The failure rate refers to the percentage or number of failures that occur in a given system, process, or product. It is typically used to indicate how many times an action or attempt has failed before succeeding. In other words, it measures the proportion of unsuccessful outcomes compared to the total number of attempts made. The failure rate can be used as a metric to evaluate the performance and reliability of various systems such as machinery, software applications, or business processes. It is an important indicator for identifying areas that need improvement in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness.