incomplete

adjective in·com·plete \ˌin-kəm-ˈplēt\

: lacking some part : not finished : not complete

American football of a forward pass : not caught by the player the ball was thrown to

Full Definition of INCOMPLETE

: not complete : unfinished: as

a : lacking a part; especially : lacking one or more sets of floral organs

b of insect metamorphosis : characterized by the absence of a pupal stage between the immature stages and the adult of an insect in which the young usually resemble the adult — compare complete 5

of a football pass : not legally caught

— in·com·plete·ly adverb

— in·com·plete·ness noun

See incomplete defined for English-language learners

See incomplete defined for kids

Origin of INCOMPLETE

Middle English incompleet, from Late Latin incompletus, from Latin in- + completus complete

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to INCOMPLETE

Synonyms: deficient, fragmental, fragmentary, half, halfway, partial

Antonyms: complete, entire, full, intact, integral, perfect, whole

INCOMPLETENESS Defined for Kids

incomplete

adjective in·com·plete \ˌin-kəm-ˈplēt\

Definition of INCOMPLETE for Kids

: not finished : not complete

— in·com·plete·ly adverb

Medical Dictionary

incomplete

adjective in·com·plete \ˌin-kəm-ˈplēt\

Medical Definition of INCOMPLETE

of insect metamorphosis : having no pupal stage between the immature stages and the adult with the young insect usually resembling the adult—compare complete 1

of a bone fracture : not broken entirely across—compare complete 2

: characterized by incomplete dominance <an incomplete dominant>