defective
gb/dɪfˈɛktɪv/ us/dɪfˈɛktɪv/
B1
English
~ 2500
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Not functioning properly
Not working right or having something wrong with it.
Usage pattern:
[something] is defective
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'defective' with 'deficient'. 'Deficient' means lacking something important, not necessarily broken.
Synonyms
faulty (Slightly more informal; often used for everyday objects.)
|
malfunctioning (Emphasizes that something is currently failing to work.)
Antonyms
functional (Means working normally and as intended.)
|
perfect (Means without any faults or defects.)
Collocations
defective product
|defective equipment
|defective part
|defective design
|defective item
Themes
daily life
|manufacturing
|technology
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company had to recall thousands of defective cars.
- This phone charger is defective and won't charge my device.
- We received a defective batch of light bulbs from the supplier.
- The engineer inspected the machine for any defective parts.
- The camera was returned because it was defective.
Learner examples
- The toy is defective.
- My computer is defective.
- We sent back the defective shoes.
- The machine is defective.
- This watch is defective.
adjective
technical
B2
state
2
Having a physical or mental impairment
Having a problem in the body or mind that makes it not work normally.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is defective
Common mistake:
Learners may use 'defective' in this sense casually, which can be offensive when describing people; modern English prefers 'with a disability' or 'impaired'.
Synonyms
impaired (More neutral and widely accepted in modern usage.)
Antonyms
healthy (Free from illness or abnormality.)
Collocations
defective vision
|defective hearing
|genetically defective
|mentally defective
Themes
medicine
|law
|health
Examples
- The patient was born with defective heart valves.
- Defective vision can be corrected with glasses.
- The law protects the rights of people with defective hearing.
- Some plants are genetically defective and cannot reproduce.
- The surgery aimed to repair the child's defective spine.
Learner examples
- He has defective hearing.
- She was born with a defective heart.
- My dog has a defective leg.
- He has defective vision.
- The baby has a defective spine.
Grammar
Dictionary form
defective
IPA
GB/dɪfˈɛktɪv/
US/dɪfˈɛktɪv/
Syllables & stress
de - fect - ive (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fect)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: defective
Word family
Core family
defect
noun B1
Related words
defectively
adverb
Advanced or less common
defectiveness
noun
Expressions
defective design
1/dɪfˈɛktɪv dɪzˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
A flawed design plan or layout
A plan for making something that has mistakes and does not work well.
Examples
- The bridge collapsed due to a defective design.
- The recall was issued because of a defective design in the car's brakes.
defective equipment
1/dɪfˈɛktɪv ɪkwˈɪpmənt/
fixed phrase
Tools or machines that are faulty
Tools or machines that do not work right.
Examples
- The workers refused to use the defective equipment.
- Defective equipment caused delays in the construction project.
defective product
1/dɪfˈɛktɪv pɹˈɑdʌkt/
fixed phrase
A product that has faults
A product that does not work right or has something wrong with it.
Examples
- Customers can return any defective product within 30 days.
- The company was sued for selling a defective product.