Meanings
noundefective verb (plural defective verbs)
plural defective verbs
- grammarA verb with an incomplete conjugation; for example, one that can only be conjugated in certain persons and numbers.
The verb can is defective in most English dialects, as it lacks an infinitive.
Translations
Catalan verb defectiu
- verb defectiuverb with an incomplete conjugation
Dutch defectief werkwoord
- defectief werkwoordverb with an incomplete conjugation
French verbe défectif
- verbe défectifverb with an incomplete conjugation
German defektives Verb
- defektives Verbverb with an incomplete conjugation
Greek ελλειπτικό ρήμα
- ελλειπτικό ρήμα (elleiptikó ríma)verb with an incomplete conjugation
Hungarian hiányos ragozású ige, hiányos ige
- hiányos ragozású igeverb with an incomplete conjugation
- hiányos igeverb with an incomplete conjugation
Italian verbo difettivo
- verbo difettivoverb with an incomplete conjugation
Japanese 欠如動詞, けつじょどうし
- 欠如動詞 (ketsujo-doushi)verb with an incomplete conjugation
- けつじょどうし (ketsujo-doushi)verb with an incomplete conjugation
Polish czasownik ułomny
- czasownik ułomnyverb with an incomplete conjugation
Portuguese verbo defectivo
- verbo defectivoverb with an incomplete conjugation
Scottish Gaelic gnìomhair neo-iomlan, gnìomhair uireasbhach
- gnìomhair neo-iomlanverb with an incomplete conjugation
- gnìomhair uireasbhachverb with an incomplete conjugation
Spanish verbo defectivo
- verbo defectivoverb with an incomplete conjugation
Cite this entry
APA
defective verb. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defective%20verb
MLA
“defective verb.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defective%20verb. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “defective verb,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defective%20verb.
Source: defective verb on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.