a defective design

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a defective design" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a design that has flaws or issues that affect its functionality or safety. Example: "The product was recalled due to a defective design that posed safety risks to consumers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"The F.D.A. cannot say, 'Oh, we had a defective design,' and sponsor a federal recall," Kimbrell says.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Now, presumably, a patient harmed by those drugs has no remedy, either through a defective warning or a defective design argument," said Bill Curtis, a Houston lawyer who specializes in pharmaceutical cases.

The New York Times

But Chrysler said it did not agree that the vehicles, among its most profitable models, were unsafe, adding that fire-related accidents involving the vehicles were rare and not related to a defective design.

The New York Times

Results obtained reveal a defective design of the bipolar plate.

Journal of Power Sources

The major causes include (a) defective design, (b) noncompliance with standard operation procedures (SOPs), (c) the presence of ignition sources, (d) ineffective enforcement of safety rules, (e) inadequate design of emergency facilities, and (f) delayed emergency response.

Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Defective design and construction became a reason of a damage of a complex structure of a heliport.

Procedia Engineering

Recall the widely-publicized problems in China faced by Yum! Brands' KFC franchise (antibiotics in poultry), Apple (human rights violations at factories rub by Foxconn, a key supplier) and Mattel (defective design and scares over lead paint used in toy manufacturing).

Huffington Post

Defective design seems incompatible with an omnipotent intelligent designer.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This "defective design" refers to (a) the ability of metabolic gerogenes to continue, in an aimless but harmful manner, a developmental program that was beneficial early in life but was not switched off upon its completion and therefore drives aging; and (b) the weakness of the metabolic gerosuppressors that antagonize the metabolo-gerogenic pathway.

Aging

It acknowledges defective design as the most important risk for the success of a project.

International Journal of Project Management

Furthermore, defective design and maintenance of irrigation works promote the spread of malarial mosquitoes, which certainly afflicted the prehistoric hydraulic communities of the lower Tigris-Euphrates valley.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing product recalls or legal liabilities, use "a defective design" to clearly indicate a design-related flaw as the cause of the issue.

Common error

Avoid assuming "a defective design" solely implies manufacturing errors; it specifically refers to inherent flaws in the design itself, not necessarily in its production.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a defective design" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "defective" modifies the noun "design." Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It typically identifies a specific problem area when evaluating products, systems, or processes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a defective design" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to describe a flaw or inadequacy in the design of a product, system, or process. As highlighted by Ludwig, this phrase is deemed correct and usable. It appears most frequently in scientific and news-related contexts, indicating its relevance in technical discussions and media reporting on product failures or legal liabilities. While alternatives like ""a flawed design"" or ""a faulty design"" can be used, "a defective design" specifically pinpoints a design-related flaw as the root cause of the issue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a flawed design

Replaces "defective" with "flawed", indicating imperfections.

a faulty design

Substitutes "defective" with "faulty", emphasizing malfunctions.

a substandard design

Replaces "defective" with "substandard", highlighting a failure to meet requirements.

a poorly designed product

Changes the structure to focus on the product and its poor design.

an inadequate design

Uses "inadequate" instead of "defective", suggesting insufficiency.

a compromised design

Emphasizes that the design has been weakened or impaired.

an imperfect design

Uses "imperfect" in place of "defective", indicating a lack of flawlessness.

a deficient design

Replaces "defective" with "deficient", stressing a lack of necessary qualities.

a design flaw

Simplifies the phrase to focus solely on the presence of a flaw.

a problematic design

Replaces "defective" with "problematic", focusing on issues caused by the design.

FAQs

How can I use "a defective design" in a sentence?

You can use "a defective design" to describe products or systems that fail due to inherent flaws in their blueprint, such as, "The car was recalled due to "a defective design" of its braking system".

What's the difference between "a defective design" and "a manufacturing defect"?

"A defective design" refers to problems originating in the design phase, whereas "a manufacturing defect" indicates errors introduced during the production process. For example, "a defective design" might involve an unstable structure, while a manufacturing defect could be a poorly welded joint.

What are some alternatives to "a defective design"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a flawed design", "a faulty design", or "a poorly designed product".

Is "a defective design" a legal term?

Yes, "a defective design" is a term often used in product liability law to describe a product whose design makes it unreasonably dangerous. This can lead to lawsuits if the defect causes injury or damage.