defect

noun de·fect \ ˈdē-ˌfekt , di-ˈ \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of defect

1 a : an imperfection that impairs worth or utility : shortcoming

the grave defects in our foreign policy

A defect prevented the DVD from playing properly.

b chemistry : an imperfection (such as a vacancy or an unlike atom) in a crystal lattice (see lattice 2)

2 : a lack of something necessary for completeness, adequacy, or perfection : deficiency

a hearing defect

See defect defined for English-language learners

See defect defined for kids

Examples of defect in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of defect from the Web

The tragedy underscores a troubling fact: Although recalls are issued for safety defects, nearly a third of the vehicles on American roads have recalls that have not been repaired.

— holly v. hays, Indianapolis Star, "Dad dies saving daughter from icy pond. The car's brakes had been recalled.," 9 Apr. 2018
That information includes allegations defects in the tires possibly caused 95 deaths or injuries, NHTSA said.

— mike spector, WSJ, "Goodyear Denies Tire-Defect Allegations," 5 Apr. 2018
Genome sequencing also revealed a number of defects having to do with bone development and growth, some known and some novel, Butte adds.

— jamie ducharme, Time, "People Thought This 6-Inch-Tall Skeleton Was an Alien. But Science Says It Was a Human Girl," 22 Mar. 2018
Understanding hard drive 'infant mortality' Early failures are generally a reflection of factory defects that show up only after the drive is put under real-world stresses in use.

— ken colburn, azcentral, "How to buy the best hard drive: Review of reliability, features," 20 Mar. 2018
The scientists found that this procedure rescued the brainless tadpoles from most of the usual defects.

— adam rogers, WIRED, "Brainless Embryos Suggest Bioelectricity Guides Growth," 18 Mar. 2018
Much still remains unclear, though, including how long the results of a survey will remain valid, and whether the seller will be liable for defects that were not disclosed during the sale.

— The Economist, "Why Japanese houses have such limited lifespans," 15 Mar. 2018
Research is also needed to improve the photoresists, to understand their behavior when exposed to EUV and reduce the number of defects.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "Extreme UV chip defects may force a new approach to processor design," 27 Feb. 2018
Typical wear items such as brake pads and exterior paint are almost never included in the warranty, unless the damage is the result of a manufacturing defect.

— annie white, Car and Driver, "What You Need to Know about Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Car Programs," 30 June 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'defect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of defect

Middle English, borrowed from Latin dēfectus "failure, absence, lack, weakness," from dēficere "to be lacking, run short, weaken, fail" + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at deficient

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

defect Synonyms

Synonyms

blemish, blight, blotch, deformity, disfigurement, excrescence, fault, flaw, imperfection, mar, mark, pockmark, scar;

Near Antonyms

adornment, decoration, embellishment, enhancement, ornament;

bug, glitch, kink;

blot, blur, spot, stain, taint;

damage, defacement, impairment, injury;

failing, weakness;

defect

verb de·fect \ di-ˈfekt \

Definition of defect

intransitive verb

1 : to forsake one cause, party, or nation for another often because of a change in ideology

a former KGB agent who defected to America

2 : to leave one situation (such as a job) often to go over to a rival

the reporter defected to another network

—

defector

play \-ˈfek-tər\ noun

See defect defined for English-language learners

Examples of defect in a Sentence

The Russian scholar defected in 1979.
She defected from the conservative party.
He defected to the West before the war began.
The reporter defected to another TV network.

Recent Examples of defect from the Web

His main opponent is Pakatan Harapan, a four-party alliance led by 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s longest serving premier who defected from Najib’s party in 2016.

— Bloomberg.com, "Najib Calls Malaysia Vote With Party's 60-Year Rule at Stake," 17 Apr. 2018
As Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt show in their recent book How Democracies Die, the first and strongest defense against the election of an extreme or unfit leader is for his more mainstream partners to defect en masse.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "The GOP’s Never-Trumpers Are Really Just Never-Democrats," 15 Apr. 2018
One is Abdel Majid Barakat, a former data manager of the Central Crisis Management Cell who eventually defected.

— anne barnard, New York Times, "Syrian Forces Aimed to Kill Journalists, U.S. Court Is Told," 9 Apr. 2018
Raniere left the United States late last year after The New York Times reported the stories of some women who defected from their secret sorority and the government began interviewing potential witnesses.

— keith raniere, CBS News, "Female sex "slaves" allegedly branded with secretive group leader's initials," 27 Mar. 2018
Raniere left the United States late last year after The New York Times reported the stories of some women who defected from their secret sorority and the government began interviewing potential witnesses.

— tom hays, chicagotribune.com, "Sex-trafficking suspect allegedly branded female 'slaves' with his initials," 26 Mar. 2018
Abreu has played for full seasons in the majors since defecting from Cuba.

— michael beller, SI.com, "Jose Abreu is Fantasy Baseball's Most Boring Star," 22 Feb. 2018
For those defecting from Clinton, believing fake news had a greater impact than anything except being a Republican or personally disliking Clinton.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Fake news might have won Donald Trump the 2016 election, new study suggests," 3 Apr. 2018
But the only path to an Olympic berth for American citizens—short of defecting to another country—runs through the USOC.

— steven sexton, WSJ, "The U.S. Olympic Monopoly Needs Accountability," 29 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of defect

borrowed from Latin dēfectus, past participle of dēficere "to be lacking, fail, become disaffected, go over (to the side of an opponent)" — more at deficient

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1596

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

DEFECT Defined for English Language Learners

defect

noun

Definition of defect for English Language Learners

: a physical problem that causes something to be less valuable, effective, healthy, etc.
: something that causes weakness or failure

defect

verb

Definition of defect for English Language Learners

: to leave a country, political party, organization, etc., and go to a different one that is a competitor or an enemy

DEFECT Defined for Kids

defect

noun de·fect \ ˈdē-ˌfekt , di-ˈfekt \

Definition of defect for Students

1 : something that makes a thing imperfect : flaw

A slight defect lowered the diamond's value.

2 : a lack of something needed for perfection

Doctors can correct the hearing defect.

Medical Dictionary

defect

noun de·fect \ ˈdē-ˌfekt , di-ˈ \

medical Definition of defect

: a lack or deficiency of something necessary for adequacy in form or function

a hearing defect

Law Dictionary

defect

noun de·fect \ ˈdē-ˌfekt, di-ˈfekt \

legal Definition of defect

: something or a lack of something that results in incompleteness, inadequacy, or imperfection: as

a : a flaw in something (as a product) especially that creates an unreasonable risk of harm in its normal use — see also latent defect

b : an error or omission in a court document (as an indictment or pleading)

c : some imperfection in the chain of title to property that makes the title unmarketable

—

defective

play \di-ˈfek-tiv\ adjective

—

defectively

adverb

—

defectiveness

noun

Learn More about defect

See words that rhyme with defect Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for defect Spanish Central: Translation of defect Nglish: Translation of defect for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of defect for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about defect

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defect

Definition of defect

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Origin and Etymology of defect

defect Synonyms

Synonyms

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Related Words

defect

Definition of defect

defector

Examples of defect in a Sentence

Recent Examples of defect from the Web

Origin and Etymology of defect

DEFECT Defined for English Language Learners

defect

Definition of defect for English Language Learners

defect

Definition of defect for English Language Learners

DEFECT Defined for Kids

defect

Definition of defect for Students

Medical Dictionary

defect

medical Definition of defect

Law Dictionary

defect

legal Definition of defect

defective

defectively

defectiveness

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