Catalysis plays a significant role in modern industrial production and daily life and the exploration of efficient catalysts is an important issue of catalysis research. In recent decades, many researchers found the important effect of catalyst defects for their catalytic activity and various defective catalysts are prepared. Nevertheless, the relationship between defect and catalysis still needs clarification. In this review, we mainly introduce solid defect chemistry fundamental, defect types in catalysts, characterization and controllable construction of defects, the roles and the dynamic evolution of defects in catalysis. Finally, the summary and outlook for “defect with catalysis” are demonstrated. We hope this review can reveal the origin and development of catalyst defect chemistry, emphasize the importance of defect for catalysis and provide some guidance for exploration and mechanism researches of defect catalysts.