imperfect

[ im-pur-fikt ]

/ ɪmˈpɜr fɪkt /

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See synonyms for: imperfect / imperfectly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of, relating to, or characterized by defects or weaknesses: imperfect vision.

not perfect; lacking completeness: imperfect knowledge.

Grammar. noting action or state still in process at some temporal point of reference, particularly in the past.

Law. being without legal effect or support; unenforceable.

Botany. (of a flower) diclinous.

Music. of or relating to the interval of a major or minor third or sixth.Compare perfect (def. 13a).

noun Grammar.

the imperfect tense.

another verb formation or construction with imperfect meaning.

a form in the imperfect, as Latin portābam, “I was carrying.”

OTHER WORDS FOR imperfect

1 defective, faulty.

2 incomplete, underdeveloped; immature.

See synonyms for imperfect on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR imperfect

2 complete, developed.

See antonyms for imperfect on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of imperfect

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

OTHER WORDS FROM imperfect

im·per·fect·ly, adverbim·per·fect·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use imperfect in a sentence

In all my deeds I must have the law before me to condemn mine imperfectness.
Lectures on Bible Revision|Samuel Newth
Thus, by their rule, the imperfectness of capitalism was revealed.
The Positive Outcome of Philosophy|Joseph Dietzgen
Despite the imperfectness of the record, Lever's choice was a singularly happy one.
Charles Lever, His Life in His Letters, Vol. I (of II)|Edmund Downey
With his eye fixed on the Perfect, he makes no allowance for the imperfectness of those who are struggling toward it.
By the Christmas Fire|Samuel McChord Crothers

Words have necessarily human limitations and imperfectness, because of their purely human origin.
The Covenant of Salt|Henry Clay Trumbull

British Dictionary definitions for imperfect

imperfect

/ (ɪmˈpɜːfɪkt) /

adjective

exhibiting or characterized by faults, mistakes, etc; defective

not complete or finished; deficient

botany

(of flowers) lacking functional stamens or pistils
(of fungi) not undergoing sexual reproduction

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

law (of a trust, an obligation, etc) lacking some necessary formality to make effective or binding; incomplete; legally unenforceableSee also executory (def. 1)

music

(of a cadence) proceeding to the dominant from the tonic, subdominant, or any chord other than the dominant
of or relating to all intervals other than the fourth, fifth, and octaveCompare perfect (def. 9)

noun

grammar

the imperfect tense
a verb in this tense

Derived forms of imperfect

imperfectly, adverbimperfectness, noun

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

imperfect

OTHER WORDS FOR imperfect

OPPOSITES FOR imperfect

Origin of imperfect

OTHER WORDS FROM imperfect

Words related to imperfect

How to use imperfect in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for imperfect

Derived forms of imperfect