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

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

• deficient
• fragmental
• fragmentary
• half
• halfway
• partial

Examples of incomplete in a Sentence

an incomplete set of encyclopedias

She handed in an incomplete assignment.

Recent Examples on the Web

There might be video or sound issues, or the show itself might be incomplete. —WIRED, 18 Nov. 2023

The suit also argues that an August 2022 determination letter from zoning officials was based on incomplete and outdated information from the District. —Michael Brice-Saddler, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023

Currently, the researchers are using data from four health care institutions to understand issues with incomplete colonoscopy and subsequent testing. —Deborah Balthazar, STAT, 16 Nov. 2023

The Tower of Babel remained as incomplete as the Winchester Mystery House. —Myriam Gurba, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023

Proteins can be categorized as incomplete or complete proteins. —Cynthia Sass, Mph, Rd, Health, 9 Nov. 2023

Sure, the eighties also saw the rebirth of democracy throughout the region, but what a slow, agonizing, incomplete gestation that was. —Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023

Fittingly, the Bruins’ final drive against Arizona on Saturday night ended with a third-string quarterback throwing a fourth-down pass that fell incomplete, giving the ball back to the Wildcats. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2023

The data is incomplete: Manning noted that most local businesses don’t file for a trademark. —Byirina Ivanova, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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