What does default mean in Excel?

Answer 1

The default settings are those settings that are automatically used when a program is run. For example, the default typeface in MS Word is Times New Roman and the default size is 10 point. Likewise the default paragraph spacing is single line, so if you wanted a double space between paragraphs you would have to hit Enter twice.

However, all default settings can be altered, so you could elect to have whatever typeface you choose, at whatever size you choose, with whatever spaces between paragraphs you choose.

Answer 2

Default means the state or condition something will have unless you specify otherwise.

In C++, you may specify the interface to a function as:

int foo(int a, int b, int c=3.14)

You may call the function in two ways, one specifying an explicit value for the 3rd argument 'c', and the other where you omit specifying a value for 'c' and it will use the default value of 3.14 from the interface specification for 'c'.

Thus 3.14 is the default value of 'c' unless you specify otherwise.