imperfect

/ɪmˈpɜː(ɹ)fɪkt/

//ɪmˈpɜː(ɹ)fɪkt// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"imperfect" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“imperfect” has 14 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #16,048. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#16,048
frequency rank, English
2,140
“I” headwords
14
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Not perfect,

Corpus desk

Index EN-imperfect · imperfect · English

imperfect · rank #16,048 · 14 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #16,048
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 14 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,140
  • PHOTO-FINISH imaginative

Nearest frequency peer: imaginative (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “imperfect”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “imperfect” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for imperfect
PropertyValue
Headwordimperfect
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ɪmˈpɜː(ɹ)fɪkt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#16,048
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “imperfect”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).imperfectlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “imaginative” (#16,047), “implicit” (#16,049), “IB” (#16,046). Among 2,140 “I” headwords, “imperfect” is #16,048. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 14 spelling variants around imperfect (IPA /ɪmˈpɜː(ɹ)fɪkt/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #16,048 among 2,140 “I” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for imperfect, with forms such as "imeprfect", "immperfect", and "impefrect". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English imperfit, from Old French imparfit (modern French imparfait), from Latin imperfectus. Spelling modified 15c. to conform Latin etymology. See im- + perfect. The correct English form is imperfect, spelled I-M-P-E-R-F-E-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    Not perfect,
  2. 2
    Unisexual: having either male (with stamens) or female (with pistil) flowers, but not with both.
  3. 3
    Known or expected to be polyphyletic, as of a form taxon.
  4. 4
    Representing a continuing or repeated action.
  5. 5
    Lacking some elementary organ that is essential to successful or normal activity.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how imperfect appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect.
  2. Nothing imperfet or deficient left Of all that he Created.

Etymology

From Middle English imperfit, from Old French imparfit (modern French imparfait), from Latin imperfectus. Spelling modified 15c. to conform Latin etymology. See im- + perfect.

This word in other languages

imperfecto(Español)imparfait(Français)unvollkommen(Deutsch)imperfeito(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • imeprfect
  • immperfect
  • impefrect
  • imperefct
  • imperfcet
  • imperfecct
  • imperfectt
  • imperfetc
  • imperffect
  • imperrfect
  • impperfect
  • imprefect
  • ipmerfect
  • miperfect

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of imperfect - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

imeprfect2immperfect1impefrect2imperefct2imperfcet2imperfecct1imperfectt1imperfetc2
Edit distance from "imperfect"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "imperfect"?
"imperfect" is spelled I-M-P-E-R-F-E-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪmˈpɜː(ɹ)fɪkt/.
What does "imperfect" mean?
As an adjective, "imperfect" means: Not perfect,
What are common misspellings of "imperfect"?
Common misspellings include "imeprfect", "immperfect", "impefrect", "imperefct", "imperfcet". The correct spelling is "imperfect".
How do you pronounce "imperfect"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "imperfect" is /ɪmˈpɜː(ɹ)fɪkt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "imperfect"?
From Middle English imperfit, from Old French imparfit (modern French imparfait), from Latin imperfectus. Spelling modified 15c. to conform Latin etymology. See im- + perfect. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "imperfect", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 9 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

hamburger#16,040liquidity#16,063entrusted#16,017endeavour#16,014

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (14 here; floor ≥5).

nostalgic14 variantsdepiction14 variantsrendition14 variantsstatistic14 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list