defect Meaning & Definition
What Does Defect Mean?
Defect is a noun that means A fault or malfunction. It can also mean The quantity or amount by which anything falls short. As a verb, it means To abandon or turn against; to cease or change one's loyalty, especially from a military organisation or political party.
Defect at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈdiːfɛkt// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | blemish, shortcoming and desert |
| Plural | defects |
| Verb forms | defects, defecting, defected |
Defect Definition (Noun)
- A fault or malfunction.
a defect in the ear or eye; a defect in timber or iron; a defect of memory or judgment
- The quantity or amount by which anything falls short.
- A part by which a figure or quantity is wanting or deficient.
Defect as a Verb
- To abandon or turn against; to cease or change one's loyalty, especially from a military organisation or political party.
- To desert one's army, to flee from combat.
- To join the enemy army.
- To flee one's country and seek asylum.
Synonyms of Defect
Defect synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Defect
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Defect in a Sentence
a defect in the ear or eye; a defect in timber or iron; a defect of memory or judgment
Word Forms & Grammar
defect (plural defects)
defect (third-person singular simple present defects, present participle defecting, simple past and past participle defected)
Words That Rhyme With Defect
Origin of Defect
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”).
How Do You Say Defect?
You say defect as //ˈdiːfɛkt//. It has 1 syllable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Defect
Is defect a noun or a verb?
Defect is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for defect?
Close synonyms of defect are blemish, shortcoming and desert. See the full list of defect synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of defect?
The plural of defect is defects.
What is the past tense of defect?
The past tense of defect is defected. The present participle is defecting.