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imperfect

im·per·fect
I i

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [im-pur-fikt]
    • /ɪmˈpɜr fɪkt/
    • /ɪmˈpɜː.fekt/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [im-pur-fikt]
    • /ɪmˈpɜr fɪkt/

Definitions of imperfect word

  • adjective imperfect not perfect; lacking completeness: imperfect knowledge. 2
  • adjective imperfect of, relating to, or characterized by defects or weaknesses: imperfect vision. 1
  • adjective imperfect Grammar. noting action or state still in process at some temporal point of reference, particularly in the past. 1
  • adjective imperfect Law. being without legal effect or support; unenforceable. 1
  • adjective imperfect Botany. (of a flower) diclinous. 1
  • adjective imperfect Music. of or relating to the interval of a major or minor third or sixth. Compare perfect (def 13a). 1

Information block about the term

Origin of imperfect

First appearance:

before 1300
One of the 15% oldest English words
1300-50; < Latin imperfectus unfinished (see im-2, perfect); replacing Middle English imparfit < Middle French imparfait < Latin, as above

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Imperfect

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

imperfect popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 91% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

imperfect usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for imperfect

adj imperfect

  • rudimentary — pertaining to rudiments or first principles; elementary: a rudimentary knowledge of geometry.
  • inexact — not exact; not strictly precise or accurate.
  • sketchy — like a sketch; giving only outlines or essentials. Synonyms: cursory, rough, meager, crude.
  • immature — not mature, ripe, developed, perfected, etc.
  • incomplete — not complete; lacking some part.

adjective imperfect

  • flawed — characterized by flaws; having imperfections: a flawed gem; a seriously flawed piece of work.
  • unsatisfactory — not satisfactory; not satisfying or meeting one's demands; inadequate.
  • inadequate — not adequate or sufficient; inept or unsuitable.
  • disfigured — Simple past tense and past participle of disfigure.

Antonyms for imperfect

adj imperfect

  • developed — If you talk about developed countries or the developed world, you mean the countries or the parts of the world that are wealthy and have many industries.
  • moral — of, relating to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes.
  • healthy — possessing or enjoying good health or a sound and vigorous mentality: a healthy body; a healthy mind.
  • faultless — without fault, flaw, or defect; perfect.
  • unblemished — to destroy or diminish the perfection of: The book is blemished by those long, ineffective descriptions.

adjective imperfect

  • excellent — Used to indicate approval or pleasure.

Top questions with imperfect

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See also

Matching words

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