  The {\it defect} (also called {\it ramification deficiency}) of valued field
extensions is a major stumbling block in deep open problems of valuation theory
in positive characteristic. For a detailed analysis, we define and investigate
two weaker notions of defect: the {\it completion defect} and the {\it defect
quotient}. We define them for finite extensions as well as for certain valued
function fields (those with "Abhyankar valuations" that are nontrivial on the
ground field). We investigate both defects and present analogues of the results
that hold for the usual defect.
