defect

¹de·fect

noun \ˈdē-ˌfekt, di-ˈ\

Definition of DEFECT

1

a : an imperfection that impairs worth or utility : shortcoming <the grave defects in our foreign policy> b : an imperfection (as a vacancy or an unlike atom) in a crystal lattice

2

[Latin defectus] : a lack of something necessary for completeness, adequacy, or perfection : deficiency <a hearing defect>

Examples of DEFECT

1. They examine their products for defects.
2. She was born with a heart defect.
3. Vanity and pride were his two worst character defects.

Origin of DEFECT

Middle English, from Latin defectus lack, from deficere to desert, fail, from de- + facere to do — more at do

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to DEFECT

Synonyms: blight, blotch, blemish, deformity, disfigurement, excrescence, excrescency, fault, flaw, imperfection, mar, mark, pockmark, scar

Related Words: abnormality, distortion, irregularity, malformation, misshape; bug, glitch, kink; blot, blur, spot, stain, taint; damage, defacement, impairment, injury; failing, weakness

Near Antonyms: adornment, decoration, embellishment, enhancement, ornament

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Rhymes with DEFECT

abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked