Definition of defect
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 2)
2 [Latin defectus] : a lack of something necessary for completeness, adequacy, or perfection : deficiency a hearing defect
From the M-W Editors
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
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Congenital heart disease (CHD), the most common type of birth defect, occurs when the heart or blood vessels entering or leaving the heart don't develop normally.
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A 1-year-old girl from Hebron born with a heart defect who has racked up more than $1 million in hospital bills.
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Levi, the Syverson’s 6-year-old son adopted from China, was born with a serious heart defect.
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Last month, Joshua Adam Reese pleaded not guilty by reason of metal disease or defect.
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Facing uniform Democratic opposition, the Senate plan would fail if just three of the chamber’s 52 Republicans defect.
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In Diamond-Blackfan anemia, for instance, the bone marrow that generates new blood cells is faulty, but patients also often have birth defects such as a small head and misshapen or missing thumbs.
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The defect has been blamed for more than 100 injuries and 16 deaths.
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The Zika virus, which can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus, can cause potentially severe birth defects, including microcephaly, characterized by a small head, vision and hearing problems and developmental delays.
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, from Latin defectus lack, from deficere to desert, fail, from de- + facere to do — more at do
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
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
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This particular Stormtrooper had defected and crashed on the desert planet Jakku.
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That means a maximum of two can defect, and that would require Pence to cast the deciding vote in what would be a 50-50 tie with Senate Democrats.
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The bigger danger for McConnell is that Republican constituencies—from the business lobby to GOP governors—will react fiercely to the bill and convince Republican senators to defect.)
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The issues where 2012 Obama voters who defected to Trump diverge from the ones who stayed and voted for Clinton are overwhelmingly related to race and identity.
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Pyongyang is expected to demand the return of all four fishermen by accusing Seoul of enticing them to defect to the South.
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Later that year, UKIP gained its first seat in Britain’s Parliament after Clacton’s Conservative representative, Douglas Carswell, defected to the insurgent party and won a special election.
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CB A.J. Bouye, the former undrafted college find, defected to Jacksonville for huge money …
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Oleg Vidov was a matinee idol in the Soviet Union who defected to the United States at the height of the Cold War and enjoyed a long acting career in Hollywood.
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
Latin defectus, past participle of deficere —see 1defect
DEFECT Defined for English Language Learners
defect
playDefinition of defect for English Language Learners
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: a physical problem that causes something to be less valuable, effective, healthy, etc.
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: something that causes weakness or failure
defect
playDefinition of defect for English Language Learners
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: 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
Medical Dictionary
Law Dictionary
defect
playLegal 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
defectively
adverbdefectiveness
nounLearn More about defect
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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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