Meaning & use

defect

noun·Academic

A fault or imperfection that makes something less than perfect.

See it in a sentence

The manufacturer recalled thousands of cars because of a defect in the braking system.

Doctors detected a minor heart defect during the newborn's routine checkup.

A note on using this word

Applies to physical objects, biological conditions, and even character traits, always implying something is wrong.

Words with a similar meaning

flawimperfection

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To leave one's country, party, or cause in order to join an opposing one.

The scientist defected to another country during the height of the Cold War.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “defect”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.