English · Word Candidate

defect

/ˈdiːfɛkt/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: defects · defecting · defected

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A fault or malfunction.

Noun

Examples

a defect in the ear or eye; a defect in timber or iron; a defect of memory or judgment

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The quantity or amount by which anything falls short.

Noun

Examples

and the indefatigable application with which they have supplied the defects of early culture.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To abandon or turn against; to cease or change one's loyalty, especially from a military organisation or political party.

Verb

Examples

Capitalizing on the restive mood, Mr. Farage, the U.K. Independence Party leader, took out an advertisement in The Daily Telegraph this week inviting unhappy Tories to defect. In it Mr. Farage sniped that the Cameron government — made up disproportionately of career politicians who graduated from Et

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To desert one's army, to flee from combat.

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “defect” mean?

A fault or malfunction.

Is “defect” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.