unvollständiger

Unvollständiger is the attributive form of the German adjective unvollständig, meaning not complete or incomplete. It is used before a noun to indicate that something is missing parts, unfinished, or lacking in fullness. The base adjective comes from un- plus vollständig, which itself derives from voll (full) and -ständig.

Inflection and usage: In German, adjectives change endings according to gender, number, case, and the determiner used. Examples include: ein unvollständiger Bericht (masculine singular, nominative after ein); der unvollständige Bericht (masculine singular, nominative with der); einen unvollständigen Bericht (masculine singular, accusative); eines unvollständigen Berichts (masculine singular, genitive). For feminine nouns: eine unvollständige Arbeit; for neuter nouns: ein unvollständiges Dokument. The form unvollständiger also appears in contexts where a masculine singular nominative is expected without a definite article, as in unvollständiger Zustand (used in headings or telegraphic style).

Nuance and related terms: Unvollständigkeit or Unvollständigkeit is the corresponding noun form denoting the state of being incomplete. Synonyms or near-synonyms include lückenhaft (full of gaps) and unvollständig (as the base adjective). The term is common in technical, scientific, legal, and editorial contexts to describe data, reports, plans, or processes that do not meet criteria of completeness.

See also: Vollständigkeit, Unvollständigkeit, lückenhaft, unvollkommen.