Defective meaning

dĭ-fĕk'tĭv
Having a physical or mental defect; subnormal.
adjective
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A person with some physical or mental defect.
noun
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A defective word.
noun
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Of a product or process, that it contains an error or flaw affecting performance; of a pleading or document, that it contains a shortcoming potentially causing its invalidity or leading to its dismissal.
adjective
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Having one or more defects.
adjective
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(grammar, of a verb) Lacking some forms; e.g., having only one tense or being usable only in the third person.
adjective
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A person considered to be defective.
noun
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The definition of defective is something or someone that is imperfect or that doesn't work properly.

A door that does not latch correctly is an example of something that would be described as defective.

adjective
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Lacking one or more of the inflected forms normal for a particular category of word, as the verb may in English.
adjective
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Having a defect; faulty.

A defective appliance.

adjective
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Marked by subnormal structure, function, intelligence, or behavior.

Defective speech.

adjective
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One who has a physical or mental disability.
noun
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Having a defect or defects; imperfect; faulty.
adjective
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Lacking some of the usual forms of inflection.

“ought” is a defective verb.

adjective
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Origin of defective

From Middle French défectif

Sentence Examples

  • The law is defective and unfair in its incidence, and it is not applicable to foreigners.

  • Accordingly" heresy is to be distinguished from defective stages of Christian knowledge.

  • The size of the boiler may be increased or diminished by the addition or subtraction of one or more sections; these, being simple in design, are easily fitted together, and should a section become defective it is a simple matter to insert a new one in its place.

  • Milbourn (1867) the defendant had broken his contract to let a lecture-room to the plaintiff, on discovering that the intended lectures were to maintain that "the character of Christ is defective, and his teaching misleading, and that the Bible is no more inspired than any other book," and the court of exchequer held that the publication of such doctrine was blasphemy, and the contract therefore illegal.

  • Other institutions include higher elementary schools for pupils certified to be able to profit by higher instruction; and schools for blind, deaf and defective children.

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Words near defective in the Dictionary