If something is defective, there is something wrong with it and it does not work properly.
Her sight was becoming defective.
Retailers can return defective merchandise.
Synonyms: faulty, broken, not working, flawed More Synonyms of defective
More Synonyms of defective
defective in British English
(dɪˈfɛktɪv)
adjective
1.
having a defect or flaw; imperfect; faulty
2. old-fashioned, offensive
(of a person) below the usual standard or level, esp in intelligence
3. grammar
(of a word) lacking the full range of inflections characteristic of its form class, as for example must, which has no past tense
Derived forms
defectively (deˈfectively)
adverb
defectiveness (deˈfectiveness)
noun
defective in American English
(dɪˈfektɪv)
adjective
1.
having a defect or flaw; faulty; imperfect
a defective machine
2. Psychology
characterized by intelligence or behavior that is below the usual standard
3. Grammar(of an inflected word or its inflection)
lacking one or more of the inflected forms proper to most words of the same class in the language, as English must, which occurs only in the present tense
noun
4.
a defective person or thing
Derived forms
defectively
adverb
defectiveness
noun
Word origin
[1375–1425; ‹ LL dēfectīvus, equiv. to dēfectus ( see defect) + -īvus-ive; r. ME defectif ‹ MF ‹ LL, as above]
Examples of 'defective' in a sentence
defective
They found a way of targeting the defective genes causing the problem in tests on mice.
The Sun (2016)
Trading standards officers should inform counterparts in other areas of defective products.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Test flights were stopped when a defective valve in the power system was discovered.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He was also able to speak to the anaesthetist as he had a defective heart valve replaced.
The Sun (2010)
The defective gene has not yet been identified by doctors and has no name.
The Sun (2011)
Since then prison officials have admitted that their defective alarm system went off so often that it was routinely ignored.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The court in this case addressed the question of how to value the loss to church property caused by a defective product.
Christianity Today (2000)
It is caused by a defective gene that is carried by one in 25 people.
The Sun (2008)
Each of us is an individual, each carrying some genes that are defective.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
By an appalling stroke of misfortune, all three received the defective gene from both parents.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The remaining third of cases are linked to lifestyle choices or defective inherited genes, the study concludes.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The fertilised embryos are then tested for the defective gene in a lab and those that are not affected are implanted in the womb.
The Sun (2009)
The chief executive will have an operation on genetically defective valves, a problem that he has been managing for some time.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He insists that he is back to full health after undergoing ten hours of heart surgery in June to replace two genetically defective valves.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That makes the cases of defective pedals 'very rare'.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
To benefit from the technique, families must first know that they have a defective gene, usually discovered through a recurring family history of illness.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Under the new system, defective trains would be more easily removed from the line, resulting in less disruption as well as a more frequent service.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
defective
British English: defective ADJECTIVE
If something is defective, there is something wrong with it and it does not work properly.
Her sight was becoming defective.
American English: defective
Brazilian Portuguese: defeituoso
Chinese: 有缺陷的
European Spanish: defectuoso
French: défectueux
German: fehlerhaft
Italian: difettoso
Japanese: 欠陥のある
Korean: 결함이 있는
European Portuguese: defeituoso
Latin American Spanish: defectuoso
Chinese translation of 'defective'
defective
(dɪˈfɛktɪv)
adj
有缺点(點)的 (yǒu quēdiǎn de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
imperfect or faulty
Retailers can return defective merchandise.
Synonyms
faulty
They will repair the faulty equipment.
broken
a broken guitar and a rusty snare drum
not working
flawed
the unique beauty of a flawed object
imperfect
We live in an imperfect world.
out of order
The espresso machine is out of order.
on the blink (slang)
an old TV that's on the blink
buggy (computing)
Opposites
working
,
whole
, perfect,
intact
2 (adjective)
food which is defective in nutritional quality
Synonyms
deficient
a diet deficient in vitamins
lacking
Why was military intelligence so lacking?
short
Money was short in those days.
inadequate
Supplies of food and medicine are inadequate.
insufficient
There was insufficient evidence to proceed.
incomplete
Some offices had incomplete information on spending.
scant
There is scant evidence of strong economic growth to come.