incomplète

Incomplète is the feminine singular form of the French adjective incomplet, meaning not complete, incomplete, or unfinished. It is used to describe feminine nouns, for example: une explication incomplète, une analyse incomplète, une œuvre incomplète.

Etymology and form: The word derives from Latin incompletus, formed with the prefix in- and completus meaning finished. In French, feminine forms of adjectives are typically created by adding -e to the masculine form; for adjectives ending in -et the feminine often involves a doubling of the final consonant and an -e, yielding incomplète. The masculine counterpart is incomplet.

Usage notes: Incomplète emphasizes that something lacks elements, details, or development. It can apply to physical objects, texts, data sets, plans, or processes that are not fully developed or resolved. The term can carry a neutral tone or a critical nuance depending on context, and is common in academic, technical, and everyday language.

Related forms: The masculine form is incomplet; the corresponding adverb is incomplètement; the related noun for the state of not being complete is l’incomplétude. The verb to complete is compléter, which is semantically linked to the concept of incompleteness.

See also: incomplet, incomplétude, incomplètement, compléter.