perfect

1 of 3

adjective

per·​fect ˈpər-fikt How to pronounce perfect (audio)
1
a
: being entirely without fault or defect : flawless
a perfect diamond
b
: satisfying all requirements : accurate
c
: corresponding to an ideal standard or abstract concept
a perfect gentleman
d
: faithfully reproducing the original
specifically : letter-perfect
e
: legally valid
2
: expert, proficient
practice makes perfect
3
a
: pure, total
b
: lacking in no essential detail : complete
c
obsolete : sane
d
: absolute, unequivocal
enjoys perfect happiness
e
: of an extreme kind : unmitigated
a perfect brat
an act of perfect foolishness
4
obsolete : mature
5
: of, relating to, or constituting a verb form or verbal that expresses an action or state completed at the time of speaking or at a time spoken of
6
obsolete
a
7
of a musical interval : belonging to the consonances unison, fourth, fifth, and octave which become augmented or diminished when raised or lowered by a half step
8
a
: sexually mature and fully differentiated
a perfect insect
b
: having both stamens and pistils in the same flower
a perfect flower
perfectness noun

perfect

2 of 3

verb

per·​fect pər-ˈfekt How to pronounce perfect (audio)
also
ˈpər-fikt How to pronounce perfect (audio)
perfected; perfecting; perfects

transitive verb

1
: to bring to final form
2
: to make perfect : improve, refine
perfecter noun

perfect

3 of 3

noun

per·​fect ˈpər-fikt How to pronounce perfect (audio)
: the perfect tense of a language
also : a verb form in the perfect tense
Choose the Right Synonym for perfect

perfect, whole, entire, intact mean not lacking or faulty in any particular.

perfect implies the soundness and the excellence of every part, element, or quality of a thing frequently as an unattainable or theoretical state.

a perfect set of teeth

whole suggests a completeness or perfection that can be sought, gained, or regained.

felt like a whole person again after vacation

entire implies perfection deriving from integrity, soundness, or completeness of a thing.

the entire Beethoven corpus

intact implies retention of perfection of a thing in its natural or original state.

the boat survived the storm intact

Examples of perfect in a Sentence

Adjective He drew a perfect circle. She's a perfect baby. She hardly cries and she sleeps through the night. His behavior is a perfect example of what not to do. This is a perfect time to have a wedding. Going to the museum was a perfect way to spend a rainy day. “Is that a big enough piece of pie?” “Yes, it's perfect, thanks.” Verb perfected the arrangements for their long-awaited European vacation an art teacher who seems to believe that you can always perfect a painting with some additional brush strokes See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
And so the depth of field is very shallow, but the clarity is perfect. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023 Whereas previous iterations might have been several millimeters too large for many wrists, this new reference is perfect for both men and women. Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 20 Nov. 2023 This 5-quart sauté pan is perfect for one-pot recipes, and the stylish exterior gives a pop of color to any kitchen aesthetic. Michelle Love, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Nov. 2023 The Minimalist's stick formulation is perfect for natural-looking coverage during chill, minimalist makeup days or touchups on the go. Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 20 Nov. 2023 Fill in, perfect, and even exaggerate the top line before applying the bottom portion. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2023 This vibrant city strikes a perfect balance between urban hustle and beach town relaxation. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 19 Nov. 2023 At least the van’s bumper has been rendered triumphantly trapezoidal, a true beacon unto the more privileged children driving to school in shiny, perfect sports cars. Heather Havrilesky, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023 An exceptional choice for those seeking a seamless blend of performance and portability, this MacBook Pro features a sleek design, and a stunning Retina display, and is perfect for travel or cozy evenings by the fire. Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 9 Nov. 2023
Verb
Just ask Temple, who spent months perfecting her Minnesota accent. Michael Schneider, Variety, 20 Nov. 2023 From mustard sauce to perfect glazes for spiral-cut baked ham, these recipes are the best ways to dress up one of our favorite meats for holidays, special occasions, and even the average weekday. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 16 Nov. 2023 His input over the past months has helped the Samson R&D team perfect the Switchblade prototype. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2023 Ever wanted to perfect your accent and pronunciation? Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 8 Nov. 2023 This Story The GOP’s Brand Is Chaos The Republicans have spent years perfecting their dysfunction. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 4 Nov. 2023 Avoiding taxes is an art that companies have perfected over the last few decades. Alana Semuels, TIME, 23 Oct. 2023 The handshake was smooth, showing that these two have been working to perfect it. Scott Thompson, Fox News, 22 Oct. 2023 Lantry perfected his skill at internships with Manoa Chocolate Hawaii in Kailua, Hawaii, and with Chef Luis Amado at his chocolate academy in New York. Roxana Becerril, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2023
Noun
Echeverias, a broad, low succulent, and burro’s tail, a trailing succulent perfect for hanging planters, are both nontoxic options that thrive in high light. Sofia Andrade, Washington Post, 20 July 2023 Maybe not like, Ioan Gruffudd-looking perfect, but good enough, certainly. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 6 May 2023 Progressives tore themselves apart in a constant struggle that repeatedly pitted the perfect against the merely good. Gerard Baker, WSJ, 9 Jan. 2023 Ewers was the nation’s top high school prospect heading into the 2021 season, with a rare perfect ranking from 247Sports — just like Manning and former Texas standout Vince Young. Dallas News, 19 Aug. 2022 The temps at local-favorite climbing spots like Moe's Valley and Black Rocks are chef's-kiss perfect now, and crowds are nonexistent. Kathryn Romeyn, Men's Health, 30 Nov. 2022 But Monday is a perfect for the Blazers to start changing that perception. oregonlive, 24 Oct. 2022 In other words, don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good—every bit of progress helps. Jeff Wilser, Time, 13 Oct. 2022 The building has a large, exposed wall that is a perfect for a mural, Barbara Cash said. Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Aug. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perfect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English parfit, from Anglo-French, from Latin perfectus, from past participle of perficere to carry out, perfect, from per- thoroughly + facere to make, do — more at do

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1580, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perfect was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near perfect

Cite this Entry

“Perfect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfect. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

perfect

1 of 3 adjective
per·​fect ˈpər-fikt How to pronounce perfect (audio)
1
a
: being entirely without fault or defect : flawless
b
: meeting all requirements : accurate, exact
a perfect circle
a perfect copy
c
: pure sense 3, total
perfect stillness
2
: of an extreme kind
a perfect fool
3
: of, relating to, or being a verb form in the perfect tense
4
: having both stamens and pistil
a perfect flower
perfectness noun

perfect

2 of 3 verb
per·​fect pər-ˈfekt How to pronounce perfect (audio)
 also  ˈpər-fikt
1
: to make perfect
2
: to bring to final form
perfecter noun

perfect

3 of 3 noun
per·​fect ˈpər-fikt How to pronounce perfect (audio)
1
2
: a verb form in the perfect tense
Etymology

Adjective

Middle English perfit "complete, thoroughly or accurately done," from early French parfit (same meaning), from Latin perfectus "complete, perfect," derived from perficere "to carry out, complete," from per- "completely" and -ficere, from facere "to make, do" — related to artificial, fashion, satisfy

Legal Definition

perfect

1 of 2 adjective
per·​fect ˈpər-fikt How to pronounce perfect (audio)
: entirely without fault or defect: as
a
: satisfying all requirements
failed to make perfect tender
b
: free from any valid legal objection : valid and effective at law
having perfect title to the property
compare imperfect

perfect

2 of 2 transitive verb
per·​fect pər-ˈfekt How to pronounce perfect (audio)
: to complete or put in final conformity with the law: as
a
: to make (an appeal) ready for transfer to an appeals court by satisfying procedural requirements
b
: to put (one's security interest) in a position or status having priority over subsequently perfected security interests or unperfected security interests by taking statutorily prescribed steps to give notice especially by filing a financing statement or taking possession of the collateral
was the first creditor to perfect its security interest in the debtor's collateral, and, thus, was the first in priority for the collateralCommercial Bank v. Pride Furniture, Inc., 877 P.2d 1222 (1994)
compare attach sense 3

intransitive verb

: to make something (as a security interest) complete, in conformity with the law, or valid against third-party claims
perfection noun

More from Merriam-Webster on perfect

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