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imperfection

American  
[im-per-fek-shuhn] / ˌɪm pərˈfɛk ʃən /

noun

  1. an imperfect detail; flaw.

    a law full of imperfections.

  2. the quality or condition of being imperfect.

imperfection British  
/ ˌɪmpəˈfɛkʃən /

noun

  1. the condition or quality of being imperfect

  2. a fault or defect

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of imperfection

1350–1400; Middle English imperfeccio ( u ) n < Late Latin imperfectiōn- (stem of imperfectiō ) incompleteness. See im- 2, perfection

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Frankenstein,” in turn, is the director’s latest monument to the beauty of imperfection.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

Aesthetically, the nostalgia obsession will continue, with indicators of tactility, texture and imperfection becoming increasingly significant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

Part of what made “Fatal Attraction” great was its imperfection.

From Salon • Jul. 25, 2025

But what those awaiting this rule should understand is that this is not about punishing imperfection.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2025

I find every imperfection: her wispy hair, her hollow cheeks, her sallow skin, the too-slow beat of her heart.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.