defective

[dih-fek-tiv]

adjective

1. Sometimes defected having a defect or flaw; faulty; imperfect.

   a defective machine.

   Synonyms: deficient, incomplete
   Antonyms: complete, perfect

2. Psychology.,  characterized by subnormal intelligence or behavior.

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

1. a defective person or thing.

defective

/ dɪˈfɛktɪv /

adjective

1. having a defect or flaw; imperfect; faulty

2. (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

Other Word Forms

• defectively adverb
• defectiveness noun
• nondefective adjective
• nondefectively adverb
• nondefectiveness noun
• predefective adjective
• undefective adjective
• undefectively adverb
• undefectiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of defective¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; from Late Latin dēfectīvus, equivalent to dēfectus ( defect ) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English defectif, from Middle French, from Late Latin, as above

Example Sentences

He added the accused was "going far too fast" in what was described as a "defective" car.

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The order was related to a violation on plumbing that may have been defective, not working, or poorly maintained.

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Earlier this month the Conservative MP Neil Shastri-Hurst called in parliament for an independent inquiry into the extent of hearing loss linked to the earplugs and other potentially defective equipment.

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These are not thought to be connected to defective mitochondria.

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He once kicked a movie star out of his shop because the star brought back a pair of patent leather shoes that he claimed were defective.

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Related Words

• abnormal 
• damaged www.thesaurus.com
• deficient 
• faulty 
• flawed 
• inadequate 
• insufficient 
• unhealthy 
• unsound