1. A possible or likely failure that may occur in the future if preventive measures are not taken
The engineers identified a potential failure in the bridge's structural design.
Os engenheiros identificaram uma falha potencial no projeto estrutural da ponte.
2. In risk management and quality control, a defect or breakdown that could happen based on current conditions or trends
The maintenance team conducted an analysis to detect potential failures before they occur.
A equipe de manutenção realizou uma análise para detectar falhas potenciais antes que ocorram.