1. Not perfect.
2. Grammar. Of or being the tense of a verb that shows, usually in the past, an action or a condition as incomplete, continuous, or coincident with another action.
3. Botany. Having either stamens or a pistil only. Used of a flower.
4. Law. Not legally enforceable: an imperfect contract.

1. A piece of merchandise having a minor flaw that does not impair its use, usually sold at a discount.
2. (Abbr. imp. or imperf.) Grammar.
   1. The imperfect tense.
   2. A verb in the imperfect tense.

[Middle English imparfit, from Old French imparfait, from Latin imperfectus : in-, not; see in-¹ + perfectus, perfect; see perfect.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.