Word
defect
Phoneticsde·fect, stress on the first syllable
/ˈdifɛkt/
Definitions
01a fault or flaw
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a physical problem or mistake in how something was made that stops it from working perfectly.
n. a physical or functional imperfection, flaw, or blemish in a product or system.
日本語:欠陥※
“The car was recalled because of a serious defect in the braking system.”
“Quality control identified a structural defect in the wing assembly, forcing the manufacturer to halt production until the design could be rectified.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a shortage
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Mathematics Technical
n. the amount by which something is less than what is needed.
n. the amount or quantity by which something falls short of a required standard or total.
“The accountant noted a small defect in the final budget totals.”
“In geometry, the angular defect of a vertex describes the difference between the sum of the angles and the expected planar total.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “defect” in context.
Verb
01. defect to the west
“During the Cold War, several high-ranking officials chose to defect to the West.”
verb + prep + noun
02. detect a defect
“Quality control failed to detect a defect in the latest batch of microchips.”
verb + noun
03. remedy a defect
“The manufacturer is working hard to remedy the defect in the braking system.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. congenital defect
“The baby was born with a congenital defect that required immediate surgery.”
adj + noun
05. fatal defect
“The prosecutor argued that there was a fatal defect in the defendant's alibi.”
adj + noun
06. minor defect
“The car was sold at a discount because of a minor defect in the paintwork.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. character defect
“He considered his inability to say no to be a major character defect.”
noun + noun
08. defect in the system
“Hackers exploited a security defect in the system to access private data.”
noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“A paediatrician working there today says she has seen an unusual amount of birth defects, including children born without eyes or with their intestines on the outside of their bodies.” “If politicians who defect retain their seats, it would suggest that political structures can travel with them.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin defectus (“a failure, lack”), from deficere (“to fail, lack, literally 'undo'”), from past participle defectus, from de- (“of, from”) + facere (“to do”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/defect
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0