perfectible

USAGE SUMMARY

"perfectible" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is capable of being improved or perfected. An example: "The design is perfectible, allowing for enhancements in future iterations." Alternative expressions include "improvable" and "refinable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

"Our union may not be perfect, but it is perfectible," he said, adding that "we can strive through effort, through blood and sweat and tears until it is the place we imagined".

The New York Times

This idea (that man is perfectible and so should strive for perfection) has been around for 2,000 years, but it has lately been streamlined and turbo-charged: in its contemporary incarnation, it regards any unfulfilled human potentialities as a particularly sad and sclerotic form of entropy.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I think there are no perfect systems out there, but there are perfectible systems," said Ohio's secretary of state, J. Kenneth Blackwell, who commissioned the report.

The New York Times

Comaneci was the teenage girl as both cold-war emissary and avatar of perfection — proof, rather, that the body was perfectible and actual 10s attainable.

The New York Times - Magazine

The poem and the short story are theoretically perfectible, but I doubt there is such a thing as a perfect novel (even if we could begin to agree among ourselves on what comprises a good sentence).

The New Yorker

The world is perfectible, and they are the ones who will do much of the perfecting, provided you let them.In this section Fiddlers and floating brides Blood-stained pursuit of revenge The secret life of words Here's looking at you, kid The quest ReprintsMessrs Brin and Page set out to create a company and an entire culture in their image.

The Economist

How else could people be perfectible?

The Economist

Machines have always enraptured us because they are perfectible systems that can surpass human limitations.

The New Yorker

Women are perfectible, we're told again and again.

The New Yorker

In this view — the moral-spiritual companion to evolution — mankind was essentially good and wholly perfectible, and would eventually progress to the achievement of God's kingdom on earth.

The New Yorker

The radical, by contrast, is fundamentally an optimist, embracing change because he holds that human nature is perfectible.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "perfectible" when you want to convey that something, while not currently perfect, has the capacity to be brought closer to perfection through ongoing effort or adjustments. This is particularly useful in discussions about systems, designs, or even human traits.

Common error

Avoid using "perfectible" when you mean "perfect". "Perfectible" indicates the potential for improvement, whereas "perfect" suggests a state of flawlessness already achieved. Ensure you're accurately representing whether something is already ideal or simply capable of becoming so.

Linguistic Context

Perfectible functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate the capacity for improvement or achieving a state of perfection. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct and well-supported by examples showing its appropriate use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "perfectible" is a grammatically sound adjective used to describe something capable of being perfected. As noted by Ludwig AI, its high frequency across diverse contexts, especially in news, media, and science, indicates its versatility and relevance. While not interchangeable with "perfect", it conveys the potential for reaching an ideal state through continuous improvement. Remember to use alternatives like "improvable" or "refinable" to diversify your language. Be mindful of its proper use to avoid misrepresenting something already flawless.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

able to be perfected

Directly states the capability of reaching a state of perfection, stressing the possibility.

improvable

Focuses on the capacity for enhancement, suggesting a more general possibility of becoming better.

capable of improvement

Emphasizes the potential for positive change, highlighting an inherent ability to be enhanced.

susceptible to refinement

Implies a vulnerability to adjustments that enhance precision and quality.

having potential for perfection

Highlights the inherent possibility of achieving a flawless state.

amenable to perfection

Suggests a willingness or openness to being brought to a state of flawlessness.

subject to enhancement

Highlights the condition of being exposed to processes that can improve its characteristics.

open to development

Indicates a receptiveness to growth and advancement, suggesting potential for evolution.

perfectible with effort

Emphasizes that achieving perfection requires dedicated work and input.

with room for growth

Points out the existence of untapped potential, implying that further progress is possible.

FAQs

How do you use "perfectible" in a sentence?

You can use "perfectible" to describe something that can be improved or perfected. For example: "The system is not perfect, but it is "perfectible" with further testing and refinement."

What's the difference between "perfectible" and "perfect"?

"Perfectible" means capable of becoming perfect, implying it's not there yet. "Perfect" means flawless and complete. Using "perfectible" suggests potential, while "perfect" asserts current flawlessness.

What are some synonyms for "perfectible"?

Alternatives to "perfectible" include "improvable", "refinable", or "capable of improvement". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say that humans are "perfectible"?

The idea that humans are "perfectible" is a philosophical concept suggesting continuous self-improvement is possible. It implies that while we may not reach absolute perfection, we can always strive to be better.