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: 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
Example Sentences
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Women's Health, 22 Mar. 2023
The two companies have defended the lack engine immobilizers by arguing they are not required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and therefore there is no defect with the vehicles’ security design.
—Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2023
But Bridges had been born with a common genetic heart defect: aortic valve stenosis, a mutation of the valve in the heart’s main artery, the aorta.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 5 Mar. 2023
This defect, however, does not arise from flaws in the court’s design.
—WSJ, 28 Feb. 2023
According to research published in the journal PLoS Pathogens, people with dandruff may have a skin barrier defect that’s aggravated by Malassezia.
—Lisa Bain, Good Housekeeping, 28 Feb. 2023
Ford Motor’s battery supplier says the defect that led to a fire in an electric F-150 Lightning and halted production earlier this month is not a fundamental flaw in the design of the power source.
—Bykeith Naughton And Bloomberg, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2023
The genetic defect that causes cystic fibrosis is most common in people of Northern European ancestry, as are the specific mutations needed for Trikafta to work.
—Rebecca Robbins, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2023
In a statement to the CPSC, Cosori explained that their own investigation turned up a potential defect in the electrical wiring of the appliances, resulting in potential fire and injury risks.
—Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 24 Feb. 2023
Richard Goldstein, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2023
González’s father, a waiter who had received invitations to defect while in the United States, was appointed to the island’s National Assembly but later stepped down without any official explanation.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN, 6 Feb. 2023
Konstantin Yefremov, the most senior Russian soldier to defect and speak out openly against the war, is now in hiding and spoke to ABC News from Mexico.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2023
But now, even a Democratic member could make the motion to vacate, and if the entire Democratic caucus supports it, given the slim GOP margin in the House, only four Republicans would have to defect in order to fire McCarthy.
—Stanley M. Brand, The Conversation, 20 Jan. 2023
Yet in Cuba, whose top boxers and baseball players often defect in search of professional paydays, money also matters.
—New York Times, 30 May 2022
That narrow margin gives the hard right more power; only five have to defect to defeat leadership initiatives – and McCarthy found out during the speaker election circus that may haunt his term.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2023
If more Republicans defect, McCarthy’s climb to speakership will grow even steeper.
—Staff Writer
Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2023
As the group's membership dwindled before the cult was ultimately shut down, the Leonard brothers announced their plans to defect, according to Ross.
—Chris Harris, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2022
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Noun
The exact causes of this condition aren’t known, but it may be associated with a defect in the protective lining (epithelium) of the bladder, an autoimmune reaction, infection, or allergy.
—Women's Health, 22 Mar. 2023
The two companies have defended the lack engine immobilizers by arguing they are not required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and therefore there is no defect with the vehicles’ security design.
—Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2023
But Bridges had been born with a common genetic heart defect: aortic valve stenosis, a mutation of the valve in the heart’s main artery, the aorta.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 5 Mar. 2023
This defect, however, does not arise from flaws in the court’s design.
—WSJ, 28 Feb. 2023
According to research published in the journal PLoS Pathogens, people with dandruff may have a skin barrier defect that’s aggravated by Malassezia.
—Lisa Bain, Good Housekeeping, 28 Feb. 2023
Ford Motor’s battery supplier says the defect that led to a fire in an electric F-150 Lightning and halted production earlier this month is not a fundamental flaw in the design of the power source.
—Bykeith Naughton And Bloomberg, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2023
The genetic defect that causes cystic fibrosis is most common in people of Northern European ancestry, as are the specific mutations needed for Trikafta to work.
—Rebecca Robbins, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2023
In a statement to the CPSC, Cosori explained that their own investigation turned up a potential defect in the electrical wiring of the appliances, resulting in potential fire and injury risks.
—Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 24 Feb. 2023
Verb
During the late stages of the Korean War, the Air Force had dropped leaflets over North Korea offering a $100,000 reward to the first North Korean pilot to defect with a MIG.
—Richard Goldstein, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2023
González’s father, a waiter who had received invitations to defect while in the United States, was appointed to the island’s National Assembly but later stepped down without any official explanation.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN, 6 Feb. 2023
Konstantin Yefremov, the most senior Russian soldier to defect and speak out openly against the war, is now in hiding and spoke to ABC News from Mexico.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2023
But now, even a Democratic member could make the motion to vacate, and if the entire Democratic caucus supports it, given the slim GOP margin in the House, only four Republicans would have to defect in order to fire McCarthy.
—Stanley M. Brand, The Conversation, 20 Jan. 2023
Yet in Cuba, whose top boxers and baseball players often defect in search of professional paydays, money also matters.
—New York Times, 30 May 2022
That narrow margin gives the hard right more power; only five have to defect to defeat leadership initiatives – and McCarthy found out during the speaker election circus that may haunt his term.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2023
If more Republicans defect, McCarthy’s climb to speakership will grow even steeper.
—Staff Writer
Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2023
As the group's membership dwindled before the cult was ultimately shut down, the Leonard brothers announced their plans to defect, according to Ross.
—Chris Harris, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2022
See More
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.
Word History
Etymology
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
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of defect was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing defect
Articles Related to defect
Dictionary Entries Near defect
Cite this Entry
“Defect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defect. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.
Kids Definition
Medical Definition
Legal Definition
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
More from Merriam-Webster on 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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