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
handed in an incomplete assignment
b
of protein
: deficient in one or more essential amino acids
Lentils are an incomplete protein.
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
Examples of incomplete in a Sentence
an incomplete set of encyclopedias
She handed in an incomplete assignment.
Recent Examples on the Web
Upon rendering it incomplete, BNSF, Canadian National Railway (CN), Canada Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CSX, have called on the regulatory board to reject the filing.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 31 Dec. 2025
Internal recovery is still incomplete.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
While those groups are not synonymous with ISIS, experts say the incomplete dismantling of extremist networks has left gaps that ISIS cells continue to exploit.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
But this picture of the American electricity sector is incomplete, eliding the interests of the utilities themselves.
—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incomplete
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Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 31 Dec. 2025
Internal recovery is still incomplete.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
While those groups are not synonymous with ISIS, experts say the incomplete dismantling of extremist networks has left gaps that ISIS cells continue to exploit.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
But this picture of the American electricity sector is incomplete, eliding the interests of the utilities themselves.
—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incomplete
Cite this Entry
“Incomplete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incomplete. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
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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