What does perfectible mean?
Perfectible means capable of being made perfect. It describes something that is not yet flawless but can, at least in principle, be improved until it reaches a state of complete excellence. The word is most often encountered in formal and philosophical writing, particularly when discussing human nature, morality, education, political institutions, and theories of social development. Unlike “perfect,” which describes something that already possesses complete quality, “perfectible” emphasizes possibility and potential for improvement. Its use often carries an idealistic or aspirational tone, suggesting that perfection may be difficult but not impossible. The related noun “perfectibility” names the quality or capacity of being perfectible. Because the term is relatively uncommon outside specialist contexts, it is especially useful when precision matters: it distinguishes the possibility of perfection from either achieved perfection or practical failure.
adjectiveCapable of being made perfect or brought to a state of complete excellence. The word is used especially in philosophical, theological, and theoretical contexts.
- Capable of being made perfect or brought to a state of complete excellence.
"The committee debated whether human nature was perfectible through education alone."
"The program treats the design system as a perfectible process rather than a fixed standard."
"The philosophers argued that moral character is perfectible through sustained practice."
Perfectible is a hopeful word: it describes what is not yet flawless but has the capacity to become so.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does perfectible come from?
The word was formed in English from “perfect,” a word borrowed from Latin, with the suffix “-ible,” which is also based on Latin and indicates that something can be affected or completed in a particular way. “Perfect” itself comes through Old French from Latin perfectus, meaning “finished” or “complete.” The formation “perfectible” follows a productive English pattern in which “-ible” turns a root into an adjective expressing capability.
Related word forms
How perfectible is actually used
Perfectible is relatively uncommon and sounds formal, abstract, or academic. It is especially associated with discussions of human nature, morality, political institutions, and philosophical systems.
Easily confused with perfectible
Perfect means already complete or faultless, whereas perfectible means capable of becoming perfect.
Perfection names the state of being complete or faultless, while perfectible describes something that has the potential to reach that state.