defect

1 of 2

noun

1
: 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)

defect

2 of 2

verb

de·​fect di-ˈfekt How to pronounce defect (audio)
defected; defecting; defects

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 noun

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
Levine's daughter, Jesse, was born with a rare heart defect requiring multiple surgeries and a lifelong pacemaker. Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Warranties cover your bed from manufacturing defects and can protect your investment beyond the trial period. Lindsay Boyers, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
The desire to defect out of self-interest, however, will be tempered by the spiritual kinship of an intentional community. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024 The Harris campaign came under fire recently for allegedly neglecting black male voters, an increasing number of whom were either defecting to former President Donald Trump or refraining from voting. Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for defect 

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

Dictionary Entries Near defect

Cite this Entry

“Defect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defect. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

defect

1 of 2 noun
: a lack of something necessary for completeness or perfection

defect

2 of 2 verb
de·​fect di-ˈfekt How to pronounce defect (audio)
: to desert a cause or party often in order to take up another
defection
-ˈfek-shən
noun
defector noun

Medical Definition

defect

noun
de·​fect ˈdē-ˌfekt How to pronounce defect (audio) di-ˈ How to pronounce defect (audio)
: a lack or deficiency of something necessary for adequacy in form or function
a hearing defect

Legal Definition

defect

noun
: 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 adjective
defectively adverb
defectiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on defect

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