1
: an imperfection or abnormality that impairs quality, function, or utility : shortcoming, flaw
carefully inspect a tire for defects
examined the porcelain for defects
a moral defect in his nature
neural tube defects
defects of metabolism
2
chemistry
: an imperfection (such as a vacancy or an unlike atom) in a crystal lattice (see lattice sense 2)
defected; defecting; defects
1
: to forsake one cause, party, or nation for another often because of a change in ideology
a former KGB agent who defected to America
2
: to leave one situation (such as a job) often to go over to a rival
the reporter defected to another network
Synonyms
Examples of defect in a Sentence
Noun
They examine their products for defects.
She was born with a heart defect.
Vanity and pride were his two worst character defects.
Verb
The Russian scholar defected in 1979.
She defected from the conservative party.
He defected to the West before the war began.
The reporter defected to another TV network.
Recent Examples on the Web
Almut Winterstein, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2025
Beyond the battery defect, Ford faces other financial concerns.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Kristen Tauer, WWD, 31 Jan. 2025
Ahn and other North Koreans who defected as soldiers have offered Ukraine their assistance against the North Korean troops.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for defect 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Many birth defects are treatable; orofacial clefts and some heart defects, for example, can be corrected with surgery.
—Almut Winterstein, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2025
Beyond the battery defect, Ford faces other financial concerns.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
Mikhail Baryshnikov, who defected from the Soviet Union fifty years ago, descended the building stairs alongside Navalnaya, and the pair posed for photos next to a poster of the film.
—Kristen Tauer, WWD, 31 Jan. 2025
Ahn and other North Koreans who defected as soldiers have offered Ukraine their assistance against the North Korean troops.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for defect
Dictionary Entries Near defect
Cite this Entry
“Defect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defect. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
Legal Definition
defect
noun
de·fect
ˈdē-ˌfekt, di-ˈfekt 
: something or a lack of something that results in incompleteness, inadequacy, or imperfection: as
a
: a flaw in something (as a product) especially that creates an unreasonable risk of harm in its normal use see also latent defect
b
: an error or omission in a court document (as an indictment or pleading)
c
: some imperfection in the chain of title to property that makes the title unmarketable
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share