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Added 9 October 2026

defect

/ˈdiːfɛkt/ noun

In Latin: vitium, menda Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about defect at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An imperfection in a bodily system.
visual defects
A failing or deficiency.
that interpretation is an unfortunate defect of our lack of information
An imperfection in an object or machine.
a flaw caused the crystal to shatter

verb

Desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the opposing cause, country, or army.
If soldiers deserted Hitler's army, they were shot

Origin

Borrowed from Latin defectus (“a failure, lack”), from deficere (“to fail, lack, literally 'undo'”), from past participle defectus, from de- (“of, from”) + facere (“to do”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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