somewhat defective

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat defective" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has minor flaws or issues, indicating that it is not completely perfect. Example: "The product was somewhat defective, leading to a few minor issues during its operation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In an additional one-sixth of the world's countries, these institutions, though somewhat defective, nevertheless provided historically high levels of democratic government.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Dion would come closer to Plato's ideal (although his early upbringing must have been somewhat defective, Epist.

SEP

This is borne out in recombinant E. coli; Qrr2, Qrr4, and Qrr5 repress VIBHAR_02509-GFP while Qrr3 is somewhat defective.

EMBO Journal

Consistent with these observations, we found that both WT and mutant MHC luciferase reporters were somewhat defective in the p52 Bcl3-driven activation.

Cell Reports

The absence of these genes, and the insertion of several IS elements in the corresponding region, in AltDE indicate that these functions may be somewhat defective in this genome.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Mrs. Starrett had been very nice to Dorrice, a youngster who was apparently somewhat mentally defective.

The New Yorker

The phenotype conferred by the msh2-G855D allele is similar to, but less severe than that conferred by msh2-L584P (Figure 2), consistent with Msh2-Msh3 being somewhat less defective for annealing or junction stabilization.

Plosone

You watch the Amazon ratings for "To the Measures Fall" drop steadily, from a high of four and a half stars to a low somewhat below that of a defective woodchipper.

The New Yorker

Strawson argues, with both care and brilliance, that Kant's arguments are, in various ways, defective, but that somewhat weaker, but nonetheless important, conclusions along similar lines can be defended.

SEP

Nevertheless, it is possible that TACE can contribute to the constitutive cleavage of CA IX, because the ECD shedding in CHO-M2-TACE-transfected cells that express a functional TACE was somewhat higher than in TACE-defective CHO-M2 cells.

British Journal of Cancer

Its structure is isometric, of defective spinel form, and somewhat iron-deficient.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somewhat defective" when you want to indicate that something is not completely broken or unusable, but it does have noticeable flaws or shortcomings.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat defective" when the item is completely non-functional. Instead, opt for stronger terms like "completely defective" or "inoperable" to accurately reflect the severity of the issue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat defective" functions as a compound adjective that modifies a noun, indicating that the noun has flaws or is not fully functional. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "somewhat defective" is used to describe something that has flaws or is not fully functional, implying a degree of impairment that is less than total failure. Ludwig confirms its correct usage across diverse sources, including scientific and news publications. It serves to precisely convey that something is not perfect but still retains some functionality. When using the term, make sure the context warrants such language and that the extent of the defect aligns with the "somewhat" qualification. Related phrases include "slightly flawed" and "partially faulty", which can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly defective

Similar meaning but places emphasis on the "defective" component.

slightly flawed

Indicates a minor imperfection or fault.

partially faulty

Suggests that only a portion of something is not working correctly.

a bit imperfect

Emphasizes the presence of minor imperfections.

marginally deficient

Highlights a slight lack of a necessary quality or element.

somewhat impaired

Implies a reduction in functionality or effectiveness.

minorly impaired

Highlights a small degree of functional impairment.

a little unsound

Indicates something is not entirely reliable or stable.

not entirely perfect

Suggests a degree of imperfection exists.

partly out of order

Indicates a portion of something is non-operational.

FAQs

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

You can use "somewhat defective" to describe an item or system that has flaws but is not completely broken. For example, "The car's engine was "somewhat defective", causing it to stall occasionally".

What's the difference between "somewhat defective" and "completely defective"?

"Somewhat defective" indicates minor flaws or partial functionality, while "completely defective" means the item is entirely unusable.

What are some alternatives to saying "somewhat defective"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly flawed", "partially faulty", or "a bit imperfect" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "somewhat defective" in formal writing?

Yes, "somewhat defective" is suitable for formal writing when you need to describe something with minor imperfections. However, ensure the context warrants such specific language.