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

Wouldn’t admitting I wanted a redo mean declaring my existing child imperfect and flawed?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That the world, while imperfect, can surprise us with joy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But, this millisecond pulsar theory is imperfect, the researchers said.

Read more on Science Daily

Though imperfect, she said, the COPs have "delivered a very clear blueprint on what we need to do".

Read more on Barron's

In addition to being noisy, the superwide rubber can trammel a bit over patched and imperfect highway surfaces.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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