imperfect

imperfect — adjective

IPA/ɪmˈpɜːfɪkt/
KK[ˌɪmpˈɚfɪkt]IPA/ɪmˈpɜːrfɪkt/
  • imperfectpositive
  • more imperfectcomparative
  • most imperfectsuperlative

1. not completely good or correct because there are faults or missing parts — for e

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

not completely good or correct because there are faults or missing parts — for example, an imperfect plan that has not thought about all the costs, or a piece of pottery with tiny cracks in its surface.

Example

The carpenter rejected the wooden board because its surface had an imperfect finish with several rough patches.

collocation: imperfect finish / imperfect surface

Ana decided to serve the imperfect cake she had baked, even though one side was slightly burnt.

Common collocations
  • imperfect finish
  • imperfect surface
  • imperfect plan
  • imperfect system
  • imperfect world
  • imperfect understanding
  • imperfect knowledge
Synonyms
  • flawed

    The closest synonym. 'Flawed' often suggests a minor weakness in something otherwise good, while 'imperfect' is broader.

  • defective

    Stronger than 'imperfect'. Implies something does not work properly or is below standard. Often used for products.

  • faulty

    Similar to 'defective', but common for mechanical or electrical problems. 'Faulty wiring' is more natural than 'imperfect wiring'.

Antonyms
  • perfect

    Direct opposite. Something perfect has no faults or missing parts.

  • flawless

    Emphasizes the absence of any defects, especially in appearance or execution.

Grammar Patterns

imperfect + noun

be + imperfect

Usage Note

Describes objects, plans, skills, or systems that have minor flaws rather than major defects. Softer than 'defective' or 'faulty', which imply something does not work at all.

Common Mistakes

This answer is not perfect.' (when the intended meaning is that it has clear mistakes).
This answer is imperfect.
'not perfect' is a softer judgment; 'imperfect' states directly that faults exist.
The machine is imperfect broken.
The machine is imperfect.
'imperfect' is an adjective, not a verb. Do not pair it with a past participle as if it were an adverb.

2. relating to a verb form that describes an action in the past that was continuing

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

relating to a verb form that describes an action in the past that was continuing or not yet finished — used in languages like Spanish, French, and Italian to talk about ongoing past events, habits in the past, or background situations.

Example

In Italian class, Emeka learned the imperfect forms of the verb 'mangiare', which means 'to eat'.

Umi struggled to understand when to use the imperfect tense versus the simple past in Spanish.

contrast: imperfect tense vs. simple past

Common collocations
  • imperfect tense
  • imperfect form
  • imperfect verb
  • imperfect aspect
Synonyms
  • past continuous

    English does not have an 'imperfect' tense but the past continuous is the closest functional equivalent.

Grammar Patterns

imperfect + verb form/tense/aspect

Usage Note

Only applies to languages that have a distinct imperfect verb form (e.g., Romance languages, Latin, Ancient Greek, Arabic). English does not have a separate imperfect tense — the past continuous (was/were + -ing) serves a similar function.

Common Mistakes

In English, I use imperfect when I talk about yesterday.
In English, I use the past continuous (was/were + -ing) when I talk about ongoing past actions.
English does not have a distinct imperfect tense; this term is used for other languages.

imperfect — noun

IPA/ɪmˈpɜː.fekt/
KK[ˌɪmpˈɚfɪkt]IPA/ɪmˈpɝː.fekt/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All these words describe something that is not ideal or correct. 'Imperfect' is the broadest and most neutral term — it can apply to physical objects, plans, skills, or systems, and it is often softer than the alternatives. 'Flawed' is the closest synonym, typically suggesting a minor weakness in something otherwise good (a flawed argument that still makes good points). 'Defective' is stronger and implies that something fails to meet an acceptable standard or does not work properly (a defective laptop that must be returned). 'Faulty' is similar to defective but appears most often with mechanical or electrical items (faulty wiring caused the blackout). 'Incomplete' differs from the others because it focuses on missing parts rather than quality (an incomplete application form). For example: 'The pottery was imperfect but still beautiful' versus 'The pottery was defective and cracked in the kiln.'

flawed ↗defective ↗faulty ↗incomplete ↗

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin 'imperfectus', which combines 'in-' (not) and 'perfectus' (completed, fully done). The word first appeared in English around the 1300s, originally meaning 'incomplete' or 'unfinished'. The grammatical meaning — describing a verb tense showing incomplete past action — developed later in Latin grammar and was adopted into English grammatical terminology.