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

But Brett Schreiber, who is representing the victims, said the bid "is the latest example of Tesla and Musk's complete disregard for the human cost of their defective technology".

From BBC

Exodus's family had complained about how wide the windows could open, the inquest heard, but the coroner ruled the death had been "accidental" and the windows were not defective.

From BBC

"Tesla is finally being held accountable for its defective designs and grossly negligent engineering practices," said Missy Cummings, a robotics professor at George Mason University.

From BBC

These are not though to be connected to defective mitochondria.

From BBC

DeVito: Yeah, they might have some kind of mental defective thing happen to them between next year and not ask for another bunch.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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