Difetto

Difetto is an Italian noun that denotes imperfection, fault, deficiency, or shortcoming. It derives from Latin defectus, from deficere “to fail.” In use, it can refer to flaws in objects, deficiencies in performance, or shortcomings in plans or systems.

In everyday language, difetto describes tangible imperfections in manufactured goods, such as difetto di fabbricazione, or flaws in materials, such as difetto di materiale. It can also indicate a shortcoming in a design, a flaw in a process, or a problem in a statement or plan.

In legal and technical contexts, the term appears in phrases like difetto di conformità, where goods do not conform to the contract or to stated specifications. In consumer protection and product liability, a defect may trigger remedies such as repair, replacement, or refund. Related terms include difetto di conformità, difettoso, and difettosità, which are used to describe defective items or processes.

In medicine and biology, difetto can refer to congenital anomalies (difetto congenito) or to functional abnormalities, as well as to genetic defects (difetto genetico). The word is also used in philosophy and rhetoric to denote flaws in reasoning (difetto logico) or argumentative weaknesses.

The adjective form is difettoso, meaning defective or flawed. Overall, difetto covers a broad range of imperfections, from tangible faults in objects to more abstract shortcomings in reasoning or design.