Defect Definition
dēfĕkt, dĭ-fĕkt
defected, defecting, defects
noun
defects
Lack of something necessary for completeness; deficiency; shortcoming.
Webster's New World
An imperfection or weakness; fault; flaw; blemish.
Webster's New World
An error or flaw in a process or product, affecting performance and potentially causing harm; a shortcoming in a legal document that may lead to its invalidity, or in a pleading that may lead to its dismissal.
Webster's New World Law
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
verb
defected, defecting
To forsake a party or cause, esp. so as to join the opposition.
Webster's New World
To leave one's country because of disapproval of its political policies and settle in another that opposes such policies.
Webster's New World
To abandon a position or association, often to join an opposing group.
Defected from the party over the issue of free trade.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Origin of Defect
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From Middle French defaicte, from Latin defectus (“a failure, lack”), from deficere (“to fail, lack, literally 'undo'”), from past participle defectus, from de- (“priv.”) + facere (“to do”).
From Wiktionary
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Middle English from Latin dēfectus failure, want from past participle of dēficere to desert, be wanting dē- de- facere to do dhē- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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