defective

[dih-fek-tiv] /dɪˈfɛk tɪv/
adjective
1.
having a defect or flaw; faulty; imperfect:
a defective machine.
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
4.
a defective person or thing.
Origin
1375-1425; < Late Latin dēfectīvus, equivalent to dēfectus (see defect) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English defectif < Middle French < Late Latin, as above
Related forms
defectively, adverb
defectiveness, noun
nondefective, adjective
nondefectively, adverb
nondefectiveness, noun
predefective, adjective
undefective, adjective
undefectively, adverb
undefectiveness, noun
Synonyms
1. incomplete, deficient.
Antonyms
1. perfect, complete.
Examples from the web for defective
  • Sure, the product's quality is graded, but nothing is done about defective understanding as the student is pushed down the line.
  • Personalized items cannot be returned unless damaged or defective.
  • The defective tube could then be retrofitted back at the plant.
  • The company voluntarily withdrew all bottles with defective gas.
  • They are humans without emotion or conscience- they are truly defective.
  • How likely is it that those that chose to participate were mentally defective.
  • Let them and their defective gene pool perish if that's their wish.
  • Makers expect this and include ample additional sectors to replace the defective ones.
  • But the researchers found that white blood cells produced in response to the vaccine were defective.
  • We can only refund shipping costs if the return is a result of our error or defective goods.
British Dictionary definitions for defective

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
Derived Forms
defectively, adverb
defectiveness, noun
Word Origin and History for defective
adj.

mid-14c., from Middle French défectif (14c.) and directly from Late Latin defectivus, from defect-, past participle stem of deficere (see deficient). A euphemism for "mentally ill" from 1898 to c.1935. Related: Defectively; defectiveness.

defective in Medicine

defective de·fec·tive (dĭ-fěk'tĭv)
n.

  1. Having an imperfection or malformation.

  2. Lacking or deficient in some physical or mental function.