defective
Adjective
This term carries a clinical, technical tone, often associated with quality control and manufacturing. It suggests a failure in the intended design or production process, implying that the object is broken or substandard compared to a perfect model. While a similar word like "broken" describes the state of something that has ceased to function, "defective" often refers to an inherent flaw that existed from the start. It is the standard terminology used in legal warranties and consumer rights disputes to describe faulty merchandise.