defective

[ dih-fek-tiv ]
/ dɪˈfɛk tɪv /

adjective

having a defect or flaw; faulty; imperfect: a defective machine.
Psychology. characterized by subnormal intelligence or behavior.
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

a defective person or thing.

Origin of defective

1375–1425; < Late Latin dēfectīvus, equivalent to dēfectus (see defect) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English defectif < Middle French < Late Latin, as above

OTHER WORDS FROM defective

Example sentences from the Web for defective

British Dictionary definitions for defective

defective
/ (dɪˈfɛktɪv) /

adjective

having a defect or flaw; imperfect; faulty
(of a person) below the usual standard or level, esp in intelligence
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 of defective

defectively, adverb defectiveness, noun

Medical definitions for defective

defective
[ dĭ-fĕktĭv ]

n.

Having an imperfection or malformation.
Lacking or deficient in some physical or mental function.