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defect Definition

de·fect (dē′fekt′; also, and for v. always, dē fekt′, di-)

noun

  1. lack of something necessary for completeness; deficiency; shortcoming
  2. an imperfection or weakness; fault; flaw; blemish

Etymology: ME < L defectus < deficere, to undo, fail < de-, from + facere, to do

intransitive verb

  1. to forsake a party or cause, esp. so as to join the opposition
  2. to leave one's country because of disapproval of its political policies and settle in another that opposes such policies

defect Related Forms

de·fec′·tor noun

defect Synonyms

defect

n.

  1. A lack of something needed

    deficiency, shortage, deficit; see lack 1, 2.

  2. A faulty part

    imperfection, flaw, blemish, drawback, shortcoming, fault, spot, stain, taint, speck, mark, weak point, break, rift, scratch, unsoundness, frailty, gap, twist, crack, check, discoloration, hole, knot, foible, vice, failing, sin, injury, birthmark, blot, scar, marring, deformity, demerit, blotch, weakness, error, patch, seam, mistake, rough spot, blindness, infirmity, bug*, glitch*, blind spot*; see also blemish.

defect implies a lack of something essential to completeness or perfection a defect in vision; an imperfection is any faulty detail that detracts from perfection minor imperfections of style; a blemish is a superficial or surface imperfection that mars the appearance skin blemishes, a blemish on his record; a flaw is an imperfection in structure or substance, such as a crack or gap, that mars the wholeness or continuity a flaw in a metal bar

defect Synonyms

defect

v.

fall away from, desert, forsake, change allegiance, change sides; see also abandon 2, desert 2, leave 1.

defect Law Definition

n

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.
apparent defect
A flaw or error that should have been noticed by a reasonably observant individual. Also known as a patent defect.
design defect
An error or flaw introduced, or not detected, during the design of the process or product.
fatal defect
Pertaining to a contract or a pleading, an error or flaw of such gravity that it may invalidate the document in question.
manufacturing defect
An error or flaw in a product, introduced during the manufacturing rather than the design phase.
marketing defect
The failure either to inform users of the appropriate way to use a product so as to avoid harm, or to disclose an error or flaw in a product that may cause harm to a user.

defect Usage Examples

Converse of subject

characterize: It is also characterized by a heart defect, most often a hole in the heart, either ASD or VSD.

Converse of object

  • rectify: If he had been allowed to do so he would probably have completed the contract and rectified any defects.
  • remedy: The solution adopted was to remedy the tonal defects of the pipe organ in a bold manner.
  • inherit: In thalassaemia there is an inherited defect in one of these genes.
  • detect: Richard Dixon noted " They were able to detect the defects using both the conventional and ATL method " .
  • correct: These pads have a very slight cutting action that allows them to correct most defects without removing too much paint.
  • cure: If by any chance you should be as illiterate as I, and not know them, it is worth while curing the defect.

Adjective modifier

  • congenital: The urge to write is like a congenital birth defect.
  • neural: Prevention of neural tube defects: results of the Medical Research Council Vitamin Study.
  • septal: Dr. Hanley had closed Fahad's ventricular septal defect with a patch of the pericardium.
  • neuromuscular: Stimulation frequency-dependent neuromuscular junction transmission defects in patients with prior paralytic poliomyelitis.
  • genetic: Thus, affected men do not transmit the genetic defect.
  • latent: The LDA want the panel to cover construction risk, liability, advance loss of revenue and latent defects.

Modifies a noun

tracking: Need an issue log or defect tracking in your project?

Noun used with modifier

  • birth: Birth Defects know no boundaries of wealth, creed, culture, cities, towns, villages or homes.
  • tube: Prevention of neural tube defects: results of the Medical Research Council Vitamin Study.
  • cartilage: There are some things we can do to encourage the healing of articular cartilage defects.
  • heart: Children were assigned to heart defect groups based on medical records.
  • manufacturing: The lawsuit refers to a ' manufacturing defect ' .
  • perfusion: In acute infection the ventilation defect may exceed the perfusion defect.