per·fect·ible
pər-ˈfek-tə-bəl 
also ˈpər-fik-
: capable of improvement or perfection (as in moral state)
per·fect·ibil·i·ty
pərˌfektəˈbilətē sometimes ˌpərfik-
plural -es
1
a
: a capacity for progress or improvement especially in the attainment of moral excellence
believed in rationalism, progress, and the infinite perfectibility of the human race—
J. G. Colton
J. G. Colton
b
: perfectionism sense 1
the New England mind turned from perfectibility … to intellectual progress—H. S. Canby
H. S. Canby
c
: a belief advanced by Lessing that religion is rooted in humanitarian morality rather than dogmatic creed and is therefore subject to improvement
2
: perfection
ever the craftsman seeking perfectibility in … art—Saturday Review
Saturday ReviewExamples of perfectible in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Elliot Haspel,
The Atlantic,
10 May 2022
Philosophers such as Rousseau, whose worldview inspired many progressives, believed that human nature is highly malleable, even perfectible, so long as the right corrections are made to the social structure.
—
Nate Hochman,
National Review,
16 July 2019
Young people appear to have internalized irrational social ideals of the perfectible self that, while unrealistic, are to them eminently desirable and obtainable.
—
Lizzie Plaugic,
The Verge,
6 Apr. 2018
Jefferson instead embraced an Enlightenment creed that regarded humanity as potentially perfectible if freed from too much government.
—
Alan Taylor,
WSJ,
20 Oct. 2017
Cigarette rolling is a mini-craft project unto itself, repeatable and perfectible.
—
John Sherman,
Longreads,
15 Sep. 2017
Since real people are far from perfectible, they must be forced to assume their places in Utopia.
—
Kevin Passmore,
Slate Magazine,
20 Jan. 2017
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Winnicott pushed back strongly against the idea that children require perfection from their parents, or that children should be perfectible.
—
Elliot Haspel,
The Atlantic,
10 May 2022
Philosophers such as Rousseau, whose worldview inspired many progressives, believed that human nature is highly malleable, even perfectible, so long as the right corrections are made to the social structure.
—
Nate Hochman,
National Review,
16 July 2019
Young people appear to have internalized irrational social ideals of the perfectible self that, while unrealistic, are to them eminently desirable and obtainable.
—
Lizzie Plaugic,
The Verge,
6 Apr. 2018
Jefferson instead embraced an Enlightenment creed that regarded humanity as potentially perfectible if freed from too much government.
—
Alan Taylor,
WSJ,
20 Oct. 2017
Cigarette rolling is a mini-craft project unto itself, repeatable and perfectible.
—
John Sherman,
Longreads,
15 Sep. 2017
Since real people are far from perfectible, they must be forced to assume their places in Utopia.
—
Kevin Passmore,
Slate Magazine,
20 Jan. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Perfectible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfectible. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perfectible
adjective
per·fect·ible
pər-ˈfek-tə-bəl
also ˈpər-fik-
: capable of improvement or perfection
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
