defect

noun de·fect \ ˈdē-ˌfekt , di-ˈ \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Examples: defect in a Sentence

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

Most of these mutations are rare, but Casanova says his lab recently found a defect that causes vulnerability to TB and is present in one in 600 people of European ancestry and one in 1,000 humans.

— claudia wallis, Scientific American, "Extreme Flu? Weird Encephalitis? It May Be Your Genes," 13 July 2018
When he finally was found competent, the shooter went to trial in November 2017 on his plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.

— ashley luthern, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A triple homicide, a son left behind: How a Milwaukee police detective built a trusting bond with a survivor of violence," 6 July 2018
And except for the 4% of patients whose tumors have a specific DNA repair defect, doctors cannot reliably tell who will benefit.

— ken garber, Science | AAAS, "Mutation-counting blood test could predict if cutting-edge immunotherapies can beat a cancer," 27 June 2018
Born with spina bifida, a defect of the spinal cord, the Orange County teeanger has had about a dozen surgeries and dealt with serious medical complications because nerves that supply some internal organs, including his kidneys, don’t work property.

— leslie postal, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Boone High senior faces challenges but loves 'nitty-gritty' of high school journalism," 22 May 2018
Three weeks earlier, a routine scan revealed that her baby had anencephaly, a fatal defect in which part of the brain and skull isn't fully formed.

— sheena mckenzie, CNN, "'Irish abortions happen; they just don't happen on Irish soil'," 22 May 2018
The company has extended its limited warranty for those defects.

— don reisinger, Fortune, "Every Apple Watch Has This 'Defect,' Class Action Lawsuit Says," 7 June 2018
Look for defects, electrical issues or water leaks.

— carpenter realtors, Indianapolis Star, "Four mistakes that will sink the sale of your home — and how to avoid them," 4 June 2018
Many of his patients are newborns who need surgery to fix life-threatening heart defects.

— New York Times, "Dying Organs Restored to Life in Novel Experiments," 10 July 2018

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

And Manchin, Heitkamp and Donnelly defected last year on the confirmation of another conservative Supreme Court Justice, Neil Gorsuch.

— nicole gaudiano, USA TODAY, "Red-state Democrats could put party in bind over Brett Kavanaugh," 12 July 2018
Some set to work revamping the company’s contracts and building in automatic price increases and renewals, with the goal of increasing recurring revenue and lowering the risk customers will defect.

— laura cooper, WSJ, "Billionaire’s Secret Buyout Formula: 110 Instructions and an Intelligence Test," 9 July 2018
Some members of the PRI have already defected to Mr. López Obrador’s party, fearful of the drubbing to come.

— New York Times, "The Firebrand Leftist Far Ahead in Mexico’s Presidential Polls," 29 June 2018
The maternal aunt who looked after them later defected to the US.

— jamie tarabay, CNN, "Who is Kim Jong Un? Separating myth from fact," 5 June 2018
Last year, Yanqui defected to the Dominican Republic from Cuba.

— paul johnson, Aurora Beacon-News, "A first for Yoel: Cuban defector Yoel Yanqui sees snow before heating up for the Kane County Cougars," 29 May 2018
While on tour with the Cuban National Ballet in 2008, her daughter defected to the United States.

— jim higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Excited mom from Cuba is here to see her daughter dance with Milwaukee Ballet," 29 May 2018
Vila defected to Miami, worked for Marin at the supermarket and later became a MMA figher and trainer after serving a stint in prison for bizarrely crashing his car into a terminal at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

— david ovalle and carlos frías, miamiherald, "His dad’s on the run for murder. His son may be using Pincho Factory money to fund him | Miami Herald," 14 May 2018
West defected from Nike (nke, +0.22%) to Adidas (addyy, +1.08%) a few years back, and designs the Yeezy range for the German brand.

— david meyer, Fortune, "Adidas CEO Would Really Rather Not Talk About Kanye West's Comments on Slavery," 3 May 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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