a terminal defect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a terminal defect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to medical conditions, engineering, or legal matters to describe a flaw or issue that is irreparable or fatal. Example: "The engineer discovered a terminal defect in the design that would compromise the entire structure's integrity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Here we describe a child with a transverse terminal defect of one hand, whose mother is homozygous for the C677T MTHFR mutation.

Duke University

Furthermore, mice lacking T-bet exhibited both a terminal maturation defect of iNKT cells and a predominance of iNKT-17 cells, and increased ICOS expression was required for the predominance of iNKT-17 cells in the population of TSC1-deficient iNKT cells.

Duke University

In the episode Bender learns that he suffers from a terminal manufacturing defect, effectively rendering him mortal.

Wikipedia

Bender soon discovers that he suffers from a terminal manufacturing defect: he is built without a back up unit, making him mortal.

Wikipedia

Given that Lhx1 is first detectable at E11.5 when SCN neurogenesis begins, we initially hypothesized that Six3-Cre; Lhx1lox/lox mice would have an early SCN specification defect, akin to neuronal progenitor-specific deletion of Six3 (VanDunk et al., 2011) or constitutive deletion of Six6 or Lhx2 (Clark et al., 2013; Roy et al., 2013), rather than a terminal differentiation defect.

Cell Reports

Recent studies, however, carried out on small and heterogeneous patient samples, have shown that DIP may be associated with [123I]FP-CIT single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) abnormalities, which are markers of dopamine nigrostriatal terminal defect.

Schizophrenia Research

Jorunn, birth, Down syndrome after amnio Linda had an abortion after terminal defects were discovered.

BioSocieties

The ultrasound, showing all the terminal defects, did not create any distance, but in fact a very special sense of intimacy between the mother and the foetus.

BioSocieties

The neuronal membrane marker anti-HRP was used to determine whether synaptic terminal defects occur in TBPH minus alleles.

Plosone

These observations led to the hypothesis that reduced levels of ß-actin at growth cones in SMN-deficient motor neurons may cause axon guidance or nerve terminal defects ultimately resulting in motor neuron death.

Plosone

The synaptic terminal defects were even more evident in third instar larval stage (L3), where a very little addition of new synaptic boutons was detected in TBPH mutant flies (Figure 1A C L3 and 1D, wt = 41±0.80 boutons, TBPHD23 = 22.5±0.87 boutons, TBPHD142 = 23±0.87 boutons, n =  17 larvae, p<0.001).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a terminal defect" in technical writing, clearly define the scope and impact of the defect. Be specific about which system or component is affected and the potential consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "a terminal defect" to describe minor issues. Reserve this phrase for situations where the defect poses a significant risk or causes irreparable damage. Using it for trivial problems dilutes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a terminal defect" functions as a noun phrase, where "terminal" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "defect". Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a terminal defect" correctly describes an unrecoverable flaw that usually leads to failure. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Although versatile, the phrase is most appropriate for formal or scientific settings because the register reveals use in academic research, scientific publications, and technical reports. Close alternatives are "a fatal flaw", "an irreparable defect" and "a critical malfunction".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fatal flaw

Emphasizes the deadly or devastating nature of the defect.

an irreparable defect

Focuses on the inability to fix or correct the defect.

a critical malfunction

Highlights the severe impairment of functionality due to the defect.

a deadly imperfection

Emphasizes the lethal aspect and the presence of a flaw.

a hopeless fault

Underscores the lack of any chance for resolution.

an incurable problem

Highlights the impossibility of curing or resolving the issue.

an unfixable error

Focuses on the inability to correct the mistake or defect.

an end-stage failure

Highlights that the failure is in the final stage and irreversible.

a critical deficiency

Emphasizes the importance and severity of the lacking element.

a severe anomaly

Highlights the abnormality and seriousness of the deviation.

FAQs

How can I use "a terminal defect" in a sentence?

You can use "a terminal defect" to describe a critical flaw that cannot be fixed and often leads to failure. For example: "The engineer discovered "a terminal defect" in the aircraft's wing structure."

What's the difference between "a terminal defect" and "a critical flaw"?

"A terminal defect" implies the defect is not only critical but also irreversible and often leads to the end of functionality. "A "critical flaw"" may be severe but not necessarily unfixable.

What can I say instead of "a terminal defect"?

Alternatives include "a fatal flaw", "an irreparable defect", or "a critical malfunction", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a terminal defect" in informal conversation?

While grammatically correct, "a terminal defect" is more suited to formal or technical contexts. In informal conversations, simpler terms like "major problem" or "unfixable issue" might be more appropriate.