What does incompletion mean?
Incompletion is a formal noun meaning the condition of being unfinished or not complete. It describes both the absence of a necessary final step and the broader feeling that something remains unresolved. The word is especially useful when discussing projects, records, processes, or personal experiences that have not reached a satisfactory conclusion. In ordinary conversation, an adjective such as incomplete may be more direct, but incompletion can give a discussion a more abstract or analytical tone. It can also imply a notable lack: a partially completed project, an incomplete account, or a sense that something essential is absent. The related terms completion and completeness name the corresponding state of being finished, while incompletion emphasizes what remains undone or missing.
nounThe state of being incomplete or unfinished. It can refer to the absence of something necessary for completion or to a process that has not been fully carried out.
- The state of not being complete or finished.
- A lack of something necessary for completion, especially in a process, task, or structure.
"The incompletion of the project caused the deadline to be missed."
"The incompleteness of the record left several questions unanswered."
"She experienced a sense of incompleteness after leaving the conversation."
The plural is grammatically regular but rare in ordinary usage.
"The project was delayed by several small incompletions in the preparation."
Sometimes the missing piece is not a thing but the act of finishing: that quiet condition is called incompletion.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does incompletion come from?
Incompletion was formed in English by combining the prefix in- meaning not or into with completion, the noun derived from Latin complere, meaning to fill up or make complete. The Latin root also underlies complete, complement, and several related English words. Over time, completion developed the sense of finishing something, and incompletion came to denote the opposite condition.
How incompletion is actually used
The word is formal and relatively uncommon in everyday speech, where unfinished, incomplete, or incomplete work may sound more natural. It is often used when describing a process, task, record, or personal sense of dissatisfaction.
Easily confused with incompletion
Incompletion means the condition of being unfinished, whereas completion means the state of being finished or completed.