defective
dih-FEK-tiv
/dɪˈfɛktɪv/
Imperfect or faulty; not functioning as it should because of a flaw.
Implies a manufacturing error rather than damage caused by the user.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'defectus,' meaning 'a failure or lack.' If something is defective, it was 'made away' from the correct path.
Word relationships
- faulty: Faulty is more common in British English; defective sounds more formal and technical.
- flawless: Having no defects at all.
Commonly confused with
- damaged: Damaged implies something happened to it after it was made; defective implies it was made wrong.
Word family
- defect (noun): a flaw or shortcoming
Collocations
- defective product
- defective parts
- inherently defective
Example sentences
- "The company recalled the cars due to a defective braking system." Product recall notice.
Memory hook
A DEFECTIVE item has a DEEP EFFECT on your mood. Made wrong.
When not to use
Do not use for something that is simply old or worn out; use for something that was 'born' broken.
Fun facts
- In law, a 'latent defect' is a hidden flaw that couldn't be discovered by a reasonable inspection.
Related words
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.