defective

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /dɪˈfɛktɪv/ UK /dɪˈfɛktɪv/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
having a fault or imperfection; not working properly

The car was recalled because of a defective brake.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · having a fault or... faulty flawed imperfect deficient damaged broken malfunctioning

Opposites

perfect flawless functional sound intact

Word family

Forms defectiveness

Derived forms defectivelydefectiveness

Related forms defect defection defector deficient

Etymology

From Old French defectif, from Late Latin defectivus, from Latin defectus ('a failing'), from deficere ('to fail'), from de- ('down, away') + facere ('to do, make').

defectivus Latin deficere Latin facere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# defective

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** dɪˈfɛktɪv
**IPA (UK):** dɪˈfɛktɪv

## Meanings
1. having a fault or imperfection; not working properly

## Examples
- The car was recalled because of a defective brake.

## Synonyms
- faulty
- flawed
- imperfect
- deficient
- damaged
- broken
- malfunctioning

## Antonyms
- perfect
- flawless
- functional
- sound
- intact

## Derived Forms
- defectively
- defectiveness

## Related Forms
- defect
- defection
- defector
- deficient

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: defectivus
- Root: deficere
- Root: facere

## Etymology
From Old French defectif, from Late Latin defectivus, from Latin defectus ('a failing'), from deficere ('to fail'), from de- ('down, away') + facere ('to do, make').

## AI Etymology
Defective is from Old French defectif, from Late Latin defectivus, from Latin defectus ('a failing'), from deficere ('to fail'), from de- ('down, away') + facere ('to do, make'). In present-day use, it means having a fault or imperfection; not working properly. Derived formations include defectively and defectiveness. Related vocabulary includes defect, defection, defector, and deficient.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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