defect

noun

de·fect | \ ˈdē-ˌfekt ,

di-ˈ

Definition of defect

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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 sense 2)

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

defect

verb

de·fect | \ di-ˈfekt

Definition of defect (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from defect Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about defect

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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: Noun

Fox has sued the condo association several times, mostly regarding a history of construction defects at the complex, called the Hamptons at MetroWest. — Paul Brinkmann, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Sheriff's office seizes property of MetroWest man who challenged condo association," 30 May 2018 The clothes, meanwhile, are very Run Lola Run meets The Matrix: functional silhouettes tweaked just so, with detailing inspired by the idea of production defects. — Liz Raiss, GQ, "Alexander Wang and Adidas Are Back from the Future," 14 May 2018 Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter In reality, definitions of defects were elastic — shifting with time, place and actors. — Edith Sheffer, Time, "Asperger's Syndrome, the Nazi Regime and the Dangerous Power of Labeling People," 26 Apr. 2018 Mexico City Mayor Jose Ramon Amieva said the collapse occurred in an area of offices, and experts were investigating whether the collapse of the cantilevered area was because of structural defects or soil settling. — Frank Miles, Fox News, "Controversial Mexico City shopping mall partially collapses," 12 July 2018 Democrats need every member of the caucus to stick together to have any chance of defeating Kavanaugh if Collins or Murkowski defects. — Maureen Groppe, Indianapolis Star, "Barrett passed over for high court, but Donnelly still faces tough choice," 9 July 2018 Other experts inspected tree parts and found that none had rot, defects, disease or pest infestation. — Kimberly Veklerov, San Francisco Chronicle, "Cal Fire releases details of probe into cause of Wine Country fires," 9 June 2018 The suit cites design defects and that the companies failed to provide necessary and adequate information and made misrepresentations about their products. — Mark Gokavi, ajc, "Dad of late ex-Ohio high school football player sues helmet makers," 2 June 2018 The Hamptons at Metrowest, a sprawling condo complex with 700 units, is still blighted by moldy wood and faulty stucco years after the association there won a $20 million award in a construction defect lawsuit. — Paul Brinkmann, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Sheriff's office seizes property of MetroWest man who challenged condo association," 30 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

He was picked in the fourth round, 74th overall, in 1989, and the Wings went to great lengths to help him defect, scurrying him away in 1990 when his CSKA Moscow team was in Portland, Ore., for a match before the Goodwill Games. — Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, "Should Detroit Red Wings retire Sergei Fedorov's No. 91? It's time.," 12 July 2018 This suggests that the 1 million voters who left the CDU/CSU and moved into the AfD’s camp between the federal elections of 2013 and 2017 largely defected because of Merkel’s ability to get her way on the refugee issue. — Philipp Adorf, Washington Post, "Angela Merkel’s governing alliance is increasingly frayed. Here’s why.," 3 July 2018 Until Arnold defected, Washington always had a high opinion of him. — John Williams, New York Times, "Tell Us 5 Things About Your Book: A Fresh Look at Benedict Arnold’s Treason," 24 June 2018 His mysterious disappearance during the Cold War spurred theories that he had been abducted by the Soviet Union or defected to what was then known as the USSR to work against the US. — Dan Simon And Susannah Cullinane, CNN, "Neighbors of Cold War-era Air Force deserter knew him as 'Tim'," 12 June 2018 Separately, Pyongyang on Tuesday reiterated its demands for the return of a group of North Korean restaurant workers who left their jobs at a restaurant in China and defected to the South in 2016. — Andrew Jeong, WSJ, "Pompeo to Meet With High-Ranking North Korean Ahead of Summit," 29 May 2018 The split reflects a central debate Democrats everywhere have been having since their shocking defeat in 2016, when working class voters defected at the same time that minorities and young people stayed home. — NBC News, "The Stacey v. Stacey fight comes to a head, as Georgia Democrats choose a strategy for the Trump era," 20 May 2018 Park, who asked that his name be changed to protect the identity of his family that remains in North Korea, defected by crossing the Yalu River into China and settling in Seoul three years ago. — Nick Pachelli, Esquire, "I'm a North Korean Defector. I'm Saddened by What I'm Seeing at the Olympics.," 22 Feb. 2018 In recent months, numerous Muslim League candidates have defected because of the ongoing turmoil; although most have registered as independents, Khan’s party is expected to benefit. — Pamela Constable, Washington Post, "Pakistan court convicts former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in corruption case," 6 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.

History and Etymology for defect

Noun

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

Verb

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

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