1Failing an examination, or failing to advance a grade / graduate due to not meeting requirements.
彼は数学の期末試験で落第してしまった。
He failed the final math exam.
出席日数が足りなくて落第する学生もいる。
Some students end up failing because they don't have enough attendance days.
落第の知らせを聞いて、彼女はショックを受けた。
She was shocked to hear the news that she had failed.
祖父の時代は、落第すると即座に退学になることもあったそうだ。
In my grandfather's era, apparently failing could sometimes lead straight to expulsion.
2Falling short of a required standard in a non-academic context, such as an evaluation or review.
この味では料理人としてまだまだ落第だ。
With flavor like this, he's still far from making the grade as a chef.
安全性の面でこの製品は落第だと評価された。
The product was judged to fail the standard in terms of safety.