imperfect

Adj

1. Not perfect,
2. Unisexual: having either male (with stamens) or female (with pistil) flowers, but not with both.
3. Known or expected to be polyphyletic, as of a form taxon.
4. Representing a continuing or repeated action.
5. (obsolete) Lacking some elementary organ that is essential to successful or normal activity.

Noun

1. Something having a minor flaw.
2. A tense of verbs used in describing a past action that is incomplete or continuous.

Verb

to make imperfect

Opposite of

faultless, infallible, perfect

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪmˈpɜː(ɹ)fɪkt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: imperfit

Cognate with French: imparfait

In summary

From Middle English imperfit, from Old French imparfit (modern French imparfait), from Latin imperfectus. Spelling modified 15c. to conform Latin etymology. See im- + perfect.

Synonyms

incomplete

defective

faulty

partial

imperfect tense

deficient

fallible

inadequate

flawed

inferior

weak

past tense

short

continuous tense

progressive tense

fragmentary

progressive

not full

inchoate

broken

incompetent

insufficient

impaired

frail

deformed

second-rate

shortage

shy

sketchy

skimpy

stingy

strange

ugly

unblessed

uncompleted

uncouth

unenlightening

unfinished

unilluminating

wanting

wrong

half baked

not complete

not whole

be underdeveloped

dificient

abortive

unperfect

corrupt

crippled