1
: an imperfection or abnormality that impairs quality, function, or utility : shortcoming, flaw
carefully inspect a tire for defects
examined the porcelain for defects
a moral defect in his nature
neural tube defects
defects of metabolism
2
chemistry
: an imperfection (such as a vacancy or an unlike atom) in a crystal lattice (see lattice sense 2)
defected; defecting; defects
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
Synonyms
Examples of defect in a Sentence
Noun
They examine their products for defects.
She was born with a heart defect.
Vanity and pride were his two worst character defects.
Verb
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 on the Web
Kayla Jackson, The Arizona Republic, 20 Apr. 2024
The whistleblower’s lawyer says Boeing has ignored the engineer’s concerns and prevented him from talking to experts about fixing the defects.
—David Koenig, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
Burroughs’s fans, though, may consider those defects assets rather than distractions.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024
These glasses have a variety of defects from lacking proper labeling to improper manufacturing.
—Maura Barrett, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
The warranty generously covers manufacturing defects in either frames or lenses that have undergone normal wear.
—Kyle Russell, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Over the years, 107 people who were found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect have been sent from Mendota to Sand Ridge.
—Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024
About 2 million hand steamers recalled over burn concerns 00:32
HSN — the company formerly known as Home Shopping Network — in November agreed to pay a $16 million fine after waiting years to disclose the same defect involving 5.4 million steamers recalled in May of 2021.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024
Mild forms of these defects are present in at least 8 out of every 1,000 babies.
—Seth Bogner, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
By staying in Duluth rather than defecting to New York or Seattle (or even Minneapolis), Parker and Sparhawk were able to keep their overhead low.
—Justin Taylor, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
His father packed up the family — Lockshin, his mom, his two siblings — and defected to the Soviet Union with idealistic visions.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Several high-profile alliance members defected to the BJP in the past several months and numerous opposition leaders are under investigation by federal agencies or have been arrested.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
Biden's approval ratings can also tell us something about the potential for how many Haley-supporting Republicans might defect and vote for Biden in the fall.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024
Yes, the actual Stalin’s actual daughter, who defected to the United States in the midst of the Cold War and talked about why in a sensational news conference.
—Trey Graham, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024
Helped by defecting army officers, the Fano have increasingly turned the Amhara countryside into no-go areas and are threatening major cities on the main highways leading to the capital.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
The companies are fighting to hold on to consumers tempted to defect from chocolate in favor of jelly beans, salty snacks or other rival treats.
—John Towfighi, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
After the complaint, Tesla Engineering reportedly began running tests and confirmed the presence of the defect.
—Kayla Jackson, The Arizona Republic, 20 Apr. 2024
The whistleblower’s lawyer says Boeing has ignored the engineer’s concerns and prevented him from talking to experts about fixing the defects.
—David Koenig, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
Burroughs’s fans, though, may consider those defects assets rather than distractions.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024
These glasses have a variety of defects from lacking proper labeling to improper manufacturing.
—Maura Barrett, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
The warranty generously covers manufacturing defects in either frames or lenses that have undergone normal wear.
—Kyle Russell, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Over the years, 107 people who were found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect have been sent from Mendota to Sand Ridge.
—Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024
About 2 million hand steamers recalled over burn concerns 00:32
HSN — the company formerly known as Home Shopping Network — in November agreed to pay a $16 million fine after waiting years to disclose the same defect involving 5.4 million steamers recalled in May of 2021.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024
Mild forms of these defects are present in at least 8 out of every 1,000 babies.
—Seth Bogner, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
In particular, the CIA received a tip from Cuban Army lieutenant colonel who defected to the U.S. and who identified Rocha as a spy in 2006.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
By staying in Duluth rather than defecting to New York or Seattle (or even Minneapolis), Parker and Sparhawk were able to keep their overhead low.
—Justin Taylor, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
His father packed up the family — Lockshin, his mom, his two siblings — and defected to the Soviet Union with idealistic visions.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Several high-profile alliance members defected to the BJP in the past several months and numerous opposition leaders are under investigation by federal agencies or have been arrested.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
Biden's approval ratings can also tell us something about the potential for how many Haley-supporting Republicans might defect and vote for Biden in the fall.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024
Yes, the actual Stalin’s actual daughter, who defected to the United States in the midst of the Cold War and talked about why in a sensational news conference.
—Trey Graham, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024
Helped by defecting army officers, the Fano have increasingly turned the Amhara countryside into no-go areas and are threatening major cities on the main highways leading to the capital.
—Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
The companies are fighting to hold on to consumers tempted to defect from chocolate in favor of jelly beans, salty snacks or other rival treats.
—John Towfighi, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'defect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near defect
Cite this Entry
“Defect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defect. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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Medical Definition
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defect
noun
de·fect
ˈdē-ˌfekt, di-ˈfekt 
: 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
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