Defect　engineering　is　an　effective　method　for　tuning　the　performance　of　thermoelectric　materials　and　shows　significant　promise　in　advancing　thermoelectric　performance.　Given　the　rapid　progress　in　this　research　field,　this　Review　summarizes　recent　advances　in　the　application　of　defect　engineering　in　thermoelectric　materials,　offering　insights　into　how　defect　engineering　can　enhance　thermoelectric　performance.　By　manipulating　the　micro/nanostructure　and　chemical　composition　to　introduce　defects　at　various　scales,　the　physical　impacts　of　diverse　types　of　defects　on　band　structure,　carrier　and　phonon　transport　behaviors,　and　the　improvement　of　mechanical　stability　are　comprehensively　discussed.　These　findings　provide　more　reliable　and　efficient　solutions　for　practical　applications　of　thermoelectric　materials.　Additionally,　the　development　of　relevant　defect　characterization　techniques　and　theoretical　models　are　explored　to　help　identify　the　optimal　types　and　densities　of　defects　for　a　given　thermoelectric　material.　Finally,　the　challenges　faced　in　the　conversion　efficiency　and　stability　of　thermoelectric　materials　are　highlighted　and　a　look　ahead　to　the　prospects　of　defect　engineering　strategies　in　this　field　is　presented.