adjective

defective

dih-FEK-tiv/dɪˈfektɪv/

Flawed or not working properly.

The defective kettle has a detached handle lying beside it.

A kettle with a broken disconnected handle lying beside it, unable to serve properly.

Etymology

deLatindown, away

+fectLatindo, make

+iveLatincharacterized by

“Do, make” with “down, away” underlies the Latin verb meaning “fail.” Its adjective meant “imperfect,” connecting failure with a flaw that keeps something from working properly.

In context

Plainly Difficult355:57

A pH probe on the neutralizers rundown line was found to be defective. No replacement is available and the decision is made to continue working with the defective probe.

Rewind Year 7 of Plainly Difficult | Youtube Omnibus

More examples

They returned the defective part.
The batch contained defective units.
A defective sensor caused the alarm.

Forms

defective

defect noun — a flaw that impairs function

Similar words

faulty: A common alternative for not working correctly.
damaged: Has suffered harm rather than necessarily being flawed from manufacture.