imperfect

[im-pur-fikt]

adjective

1. relating to or characterized by defects or weaknesses.

   With my imperfect vision I couldn’t make out the street name.

   Synonyms: faulty, defective

2. not perfect; lacking completeness.

   Human knowledge on all subjects is imperfect.

   Synonyms: immature, underdeveloped, incomplete
   Antonyms: complete

3. Grammar.,  designating a verb aspect, tense, or other verb category used to express an action or state still in process at some point of reference in time, especially in the past.

4. Law.,  being without legal effect or support; unenforceable.

5. Botany.,  (of a flower) diclinous.

6. Music.,  of or relating to the interval of a major or minor third or sixth.

noun

Grammar.

1. 1. in some languages, a verb aspect, tense, or other verb category used to express an action or state still in process at some point of reference in time, especially in the past.

   2. an instance or form of a specific verb in such an aspect, tense, or construction, such as Latin portābam “I was carrying.”

imperfect

/ ɪmˈpɜːfɪkt /

adjective

1. exhibiting or characterized by faults, mistakes, etc; defective

2. not complete or finished; deficient

3. botany

   1. (of flowers) lacking functional stamens or pistils

   2. (of fungi) not undergoing sexual reproduction

4. grammar denoting a tense of verbs used most commonly in describing continuous or repeated past actions or events, as for example was walking as opposed to walked

5. law (of a trust, an obligation, etc) lacking some necessary formality to make effective or binding; incomplete; legally unenforceable See also executory

6. music

   1. (of a cadence) proceeding to the dominant from the tonic, subdominant, or any chord other than the dominant

   2. of or relating to all intervals other than the fourth, fifth, and octave Compare perfect

noun

1. grammar

   1. the imperfect tense

   2. a verb in this tense

Other Word Forms

• imperfectly adverb
• imperfectness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of imperfect¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin imperfectus “unfinished”; equivalent to im- ² + perfect; replacing Middle English imparfit, from Middle French imparfait, from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

“When the execution is off, you get behind and you come in zone and you’re just more likely to take on damage. So it’s kind of that imperfect storm in a lot of ways.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

What ultimately keeps them — and our system — safe is our collective belief that, even if imperfect, it has rules, stated and implied.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I’m an imperfect man and the church is an imperfect institution.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Harris is expected to describe it as "an imperfect opportunity" to deal with the legacy issue.

Read more on BBC

If he’s got some imperfect moments here and there.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• immature 
• incomplete 
• inexact 
• rudimentary 
• sketchy 
• warped