What does imperfectible mean?
Imperfectible is a formal adjective meaning incapable of being made perfect. It applies when some subject has an inherent limit that prevents it from attaining complete excellence, even in principle. The word is especially associated with philosophical and theological arguments about whether human nature, moral character, or another system can ever be entirely improved. It should be distinguished from imperfect, which merely describes something that currently contains flaws and leaves open the possibility of correction. Whereas a perfectible thing can progress toward perfection, an imperfectible thing cannot do so in principle. The related noun imperfectibility names this condition or quality, while the adverb imperfectibly describes an action performed in a way that precludes perfection. In ordinary conversation, people will usually use less formal alternatives such as incapable of being perfected, but imperfectible provides a concise and philosophically precise expression.
adjectiveIncapable of being made perfect or completed. The word is chiefly used in formal or philosophical contexts.
- Incapable of being made perfect, completed, or free from all possible flaws.
"The critic argued that the design was intrinsically imperfectible and could therefore never be regarded as final."
"The work was considered imperfectible because every revision introduced new inconsistencies."
"In the debate, one philosopher described moral character as perfectible and another treated it as imperfectible."
Perfectible can still improve; imperfectible has crossed the point where improvement could ever become perfection.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does imperfectible come from?
The word was formed in the early 19th century from imperfect, with the suffix -ible meaning “capable of being.” Both elements ultimately derive from Latin imperfectus, meaning “unfinished” or “not perfect,” from per-, meaning “thoroughly or completely,” and facere, meaning “to make.” Related English forms include imperfection and perfection, while perfectible belongs to the same Latin root but expresses the opposite possibility.
Related word forms
How imperfectible is actually used
This is a formal and relatively uncommon word. It is more typical of philosophical, theological, and critical discussion than of everyday speech; in American pronunciation, the stressed vowel is commonly pronounced /ɜːr/.
Easily confused with imperfectible
Imperfect describes something that contains flaws, whereas imperfectible describes something that cannot be made perfect.
Perfectible means capable of attaining perfection, while imperfectible means inherently incapable of doing so.