What does perfectibility mean?
Perfectibility names both the quality of being perfect and the possibility of attaining perfection. The first sense is uncommon but straightforward: something described as having perfectibility is flawless or free from defects. The second, more frequent sense treats perfection as an achievable goal rather than an existing state, often with reference to people, institutions, or social systems. In philosophy, the perfectibility of human nature has been a recurring subject, particularly in debates about education, morality, and political reform. The word can sometimes sound idealized or optimistic, implying that present flaws are temporary and that systematic improvement may be possible. It is therefore more formal and specialized than the everyday language of “making something better.” Its historical connection with the idea of progress gives it a broader resonance: perfectibility suggests not merely technical accuracy, but the human ambition to remove imperfection from the world.
nounThe quality or state of being perfect. It can also mean the capacity or possibility of being made perfect.
- The quality or state of being perfect, especially of being free from defects or errors.
- The capacity or possibility of being made perfect.
"The doctrine of human perfectibility has long shaped philosophical and political debate."
"The company promoted the perfectibility of its production process through continuous quality control."
"His faith in the perfectibility of human nature shaped his educational philosophy."
The plural is grammatically possible but rare in modern usage.
"The theorists compared the differing perfectibilities of people and institutions."
Perfectibility makes perfection a process: not merely a flawless state, but the possibility of becoming flawless.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does perfectibility come from?
The word was formed in the modern English period from “perfect” and the suffix “-ibility,” a development of Latin forms associated with ability or quality. Its ultimate roots lie in Latin perfectus, meaning “completed, excellent, or faultless,” from per- and facere, “to make or do.” The related forms “perfection” and “perfectible” preserve the same lexical root while emphasizing an achieved state and the capacity to be perfected, respectively.
How perfectibility is actually used
The word is formal and relatively uncommon in everyday speech. It is especially associated with moral, philosophical, and political discussions of human or social improvement.
Easily confused with perfectibility
Perfection is the state of being flawless, whereas perfectibility is more often the capacity or possibility of becoming flawless.