defect
DEE-fekt
/ˈdiːfɛkt/
A shortcoming, imperfection, or lack that causes a product or process to fail.
As a noun, it's a flaw; as a verb (pronounced dih-FEKT), it means to desert one's country or cause.
The story behind the word. The word literally means 'to un-make' or 'to fail in the making'. It comes from the Latin 'deficere', which meant to desert or fail. In a manufacturing context, it is a part of the product that 'failed' to be made correctly.
Word relationships
- flaw: A flaw is a general imperfection; a defect usually implies a failure to meet a specific standard or function.
- perfection: Perfection is the state of being free from all flaws or defects.
Commonly confused with
- error: An error is a mistake made by a person; a defect is a flaw in the resulting product.
Word family
- defective (adjective): Imperfect or faulty.
- defectively (adverb): In a way that is imperfect or faulty.
Collocations
- zero defects
- manufacturing defect
- latent defect
- birth defect
Idioms & expressions
- defect of character
Example sentences
- "A minor defect in the circuit board caused the entire device to malfunction." Manufacturing
- "Nature has no defect but in the mind; none can be called deformed but the unkind." Literature
Memory hook
A defect is a 'DE-fact'—it is not a 'fact' that the product is good. A failure in the making.
When not to use
In quality control, always use the noun form. Don't use it for minor aesthetic issues that don't affect function unless they violate a specification.
Fun facts
- The 'Six Sigma' methodology aims for near-perfection, allowing only 3.4 defects per million opportunities.
- In the 18th century, 'defect' was often used to describe a lack of food or supplies.
Related words
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