Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

defective verb

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.34 in modern English

Syllables: de-fec-tive verb
IPA

27

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A verb with an incomplete conjugation; for example, one that can only be conjugated in certain persons and numbers.

Example Sentences

"The verb can is defective in most English dialects, as it lacks an infinitive."

Inflected Forms

defective verbs (plural)

Phrases

impersonal verb

Frequently Paired Words

impersonal verb can

Questions

What does defective verb mean?: A verb with an incomplete conjugation; for example, one that can only be conjugated in certain persons and numbers.

How to pronounce defective verb

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “defective verb”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “defective verb”.
Repeat and practice — Say “defective verb” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.