faulty

adjective

ˈfȯl-tē 

faultier; faultiest

: marked by fault or defect : imperfect

faultily

ˈfȯl-tə-lē 

adverb

faultiness

ˈfȯl-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of faulty

• defective

Examples of faulty in a Sentence

the cause of the plane crash was traced to faulty wiring

Recent Examples on the Web

The judge also rejected Smart's arguments that the verdict was tainted by media attention and by faulty jury instructions. — CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

In 2005, a plane flying from Italy to Tunisia ran out of gas due to a faulty fuel gage and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily, killing 16 people, investigators said. — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

The Japanese automaker has dealt with its fair share of recalls in recent years, ranging from major mechanical problems to minor ones like faulty wiring for rearview cameras. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 9 Sep. 2026

Some gene therapies can correct or replace faulty genetic instructions, while others, such as CAR T cell therapy, reprogram a patient’s own cells to find and eliminate the disease. — Jigar Thakkar, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for faulty

• salty

Kids Definition

faulty

adjective

ˈfȯl-tē 

faultier; faultiest

: having a fault or weakness : imperfect

faultily

-tə-lē 

adverb

faultiness

-tē-nəs 

noun