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