nonperfect

Nonperfect is an adjective meaning not perfect or lacking in some specified degree of perfection. It can describe conditions, performances, or phenomena that do not meet a standard of completeness or excellence. In everyday English, nonperfect is relatively uncommon; more natural synonyms are imperfect, flawed, or defective, depending on context.

The term derives from non- + perfect and is used across disciplines when a precise negation of perfection is desired. In many contexts it sounds formal or technical, and writers often opt for more common terms like imperfect or incomplete to express a similar idea.

In mathematics, perfect numbers are positive integers equal to the sum of their proper divisors. The phrase nonperfect is sometimes used to refer to numbers that are not perfect, but standard terminology classifies such numbers as deficient or abundant rather than as a single nonperfect category. For example, 6 and 28 are perfect; 5 is deficient (sum of proper divisors is 1); 12 is abundant (sum of proper divisors exceeds the number).

In philosophy and theology, nonperfect beings or states describe creatures or systems that fall short of ultimate perfection, often due to finitude, contingency, or moral imperfection. In ethics, nonperfect knowledge or judgment can reflect the fallibility of human cognition.

Other domains may use nonperfect to contrast with a standard of perfection, such as in quality assessment, design reviews, or product naming. Because the term is broad and imprecise, many contexts prefer context-specific terms like imperfect, defective, or deficient to convey the intended degree of shortfall.