incomplete
adjective
in·com·plete
ˌin-kəm-ˈplēt 
1
: not complete : unfinished: such as
a
: lacking a usually necessary part, element, or step
spoke in incomplete sentences
an incomplete set of golf clubs
an incomplete diet
b
of protein
: deficient in one or more essential amino acids
People used to think you needed to eat incomplete proteins together in the same meal to make up a complete protein, but that view has been debunked; simply eat a variety of plant-based protein sources throughout the day and you'll be fine.—
Katherine Hobson
Katherine Hobson
c
: lacking one or more sets of floral organs
an incomplete flower without stamens
2
of a football pass
: not legally caught
3
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 sense 6
incompletely
adverb
incompleteness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of incomplete in a Sentence
an incomplete set of encyclopedias
She handed in an incomplete assignment.
Recent Examples on the Web
Of all the legacies of Jimmy Carter, his engagement with the Middle East might have been the most complex and consequential — and perhaps the most painfully incomplete.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025
The dress is thin and flimsy and appears to be incomplete: the ends of the straps dangle in the back instead of being secured on the inside of the bodice.
—Mia Sato, The Verge, 19 Dec. 2024
However, there are some indirect consequences for DeFi users such as exposing personally identifiable information (PII) to platforms and receiving incomplete tax forms.
—Shehan Chandrasekera, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
Trump complicates the task As Gov. Gavin Newsom enters the second half of his final term, healthcare stands out as his most ambitious but glaringly incomplete initiative.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incomplete 
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Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025
The dress is thin and flimsy and appears to be incomplete: the ends of the straps dangle in the back instead of being secured on the inside of the bodice.
—Mia Sato, The Verge, 19 Dec. 2024
However, there are some indirect consequences for DeFi users such as exposing personally identifiable information (PII) to platforms and receiving incomplete tax forms.
—Shehan Chandrasekera, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
Trump complicates the task As Gov. Gavin Newsom enters the second half of his final term, healthcare stands out as his most ambitious but glaringly incomplete initiative.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incomplete
Dictionary Entries Near incomplete
Cite this Entry
“Incomplete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incomplete. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incomplete
adjective
in·com·plete
ˌin-kəm-ˈplēt
: not complete : lacking some part
handed in an incomplete assignment
incompletely
adverb
incompleteness
noun
Medical Definition
incomplete
adjective
in·com·plete
ˌin-kəm-ˈplēt
1
of insect metamorphosis
: having no pupal stage between the immature stages and the adult with the young insect usually resembling the adult compare complete sense 1
2
of a bone fracture
: not broken entirely across compare complete sense 2
3
of a protein
: deficient in one or more essential amino acids compare complete sense 3
4
: characterized by incomplete dominance
an incomplete trait
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