defective
[ dih-fek-tiv ]
/ dɪˈfɛk tɪv /
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adjective
having a defect or flaw; faulty; imperfect: a defective machine.
Psychology. characterized by subnormal intelligence or behavior.
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
a defective person or thing.
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Origin of defective
OTHER WORDS FROM defective
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use defective in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for defective
defective
/ (dɪˈfɛktɪv) /
adjective
having a defect or flaw; imperfect; faulty
(of a person) below the usual standard or level, esp in intelligence
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 of defective
defectively, adverbdefectiveness, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for defective
defective
[ dĭ-fĕk′tĭv ]
n.
Having an imperfection or malformation.
Lacking or deficient in some physical or mental function.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.