How to pronounce defective
Say it like dih-FEK-tiv. Defective has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce defective. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- FEK
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Defective pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- FEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of defective
American and British speakers say defective in essentially the same way: /dɪˈfɛktɪv/ in the US and /dɪˈfɛktɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-FEK-tiv.
What does defective mean?
- having a defect“I returned the appliance because it was defective”
- markedly subnormal in structure or function or intelligence or behavior“defective speech”
- not working properly“a bad telephone connection”“a defective appliance”
Where does defective come from?
From Middle English defectif, defective, from Old French defectif, from Late Latin dēfectīvus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with defective
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of defective.
Questions about saying defective
How do you pronounce defective?
Say dih-FEK-tiv. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈfɛktɪv/. In British English it is /dɪˈfɛktɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in defective?
Defective has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEK). Broken into parts: dih · FEK · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say defective the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈfɛktɪv/ and the British form is /dɪˈfɛktɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.