imperfect

/ɪmˈpʌrfəkt/

/ɪmˈpʌfɪkt/

Other forms: imperfects

Something imperfect has flaws, errors, or problems. Imperfect is the opposite of perfect.

Imperfect comes from the Latin word imperfectus, meaning “incomplete." If you have an imperfect knowledge of French, you might be able to order a coffee in Paris but not chat with the waiter. Something imperfect is unfinished or damaged in some way. Scuffed silver shoes are imperfect. A great baseball player who makes one error is imperfect. Getting 100 on a test is perfect, but getting a 98 is imperfect. If it’s lacking something, it’s imperfect.

Definitions of imperfect

1. adjective

   not perfect; defective or inadequate
   “had only an imperfect understanding of his responsibilities”

   “imperfect mortals”

   “drainage here is imperfect”

   synonyms:

   blemished

   marred by imperfections

   broken

   physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

   blemished, flawed

   having a blemish or flaw

   broken

   imperfectly spoken or written

   corrupt, corrupted

   containing errors or alterations

   defective, faulty

   having a defect

   imperfectible

   capable of being made imperfect

   irregular

   falling below the manufacturer's standard

   antonyms:

   perfect

   being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

   unblemished, unmarred, unmutilated

   free from physical or moral spots or stains

   unbroken

   not broken; whole and intact; in one piece

   exact

   marked by strict and particular and complete accordance with fact

   clean

   (of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense

   clear

   free from flaw or blemish or impurity

   cold

   marked by errorless familiarity

   complete, consummate

   perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities

   down, down pat, mastered

   understood perfectly

   errorless

   free from error

   faultless, immaculate, impeccable

   without fault or error

   flawless, unflawed

   without a flaw

   ideal

   conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal

   idealised, idealized

   exalted to an ideal perfection or excellence

   idyllic

   excellent and delightful in all respects

   mint

   as if new

   perfectible

   capable of becoming or being made perfect

   pluperfect

   more than perfect

   uncorrupted, undefiled

   (of language) not having its purity or excellence debased

   utopian

   characterized by or aspiring to impracticable perfection
2. adjective

   wanting in moral strength, courage, or will; having the attributes of man as opposed to e.g. divine beings
   synonyms: fallible, frail, weak

   human

   having human form or attributes as opposed to those of animals or divine beings
3. noun

   a tense of verbs used in describing action that is on-going
   synonyms: continuous tense, imperfect tense, progressive, progressive tense

   types:

   present progressive, present progressive tense

   a tense used to express action that is on-going at the time of utterance

   past progressive, past progressive tense

   a progressive tense used to describe on-going action in the past

   future progressive, future progressive tense

   a progressive tense used to express action that will be on-going in the future

   type of:

   tense

   a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time