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
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
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
perfected; perfecting; perfects
perfecter
noun
: the perfect tense of a language
also
: a verb form in the perfect tense
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
The Nike Cortez sneakers are my go-to—they’re easy, comfortable, and perfect for styling upon arrival, too.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Judy Berman, Time, 26 June 2025
Emilia Perez and The Brutalist both used AI to alter voices, and Adrian Brody won the Academy Award for best actor even though AI perfected his Hungarian accent.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 24 June 2025
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025
Right now, the Daily Leggings are marked down to $71 in a fresh green perfect for spring.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perfect
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Adjective
Every great move leaves something behind; the goal isn’t to be perfect but committed.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
The Nike Cortez sneakers are my go-to—they’re easy, comfortable, and perfect for styling upon arrival, too.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Verb
Instead, in too many formless episodes, Season 4 favors quiet solo scenes (Syd perfects a dish amid dramatic lighting and a haunting St. Vincent track, in a set piece that looks lovely but has nothing new to say) and earnest two-handers.
—Judy Berman, Time, 26 June 2025
Emilia Perez and The Brutalist both used AI to alter voices, and Adrian Brody won the Academy Award for best actor even though AI perfected his Hungarian accent.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 24 June 2025
Noun
That dawn of discovery is an incredible moment that plays out in a car with Jordan’s reaction to Sammie’s star-making talent being dead-on perfect.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025
Right now, the Daily Leggings are marked down to $71 in a fresh green perfect for spring.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perfect
Cite this Entry
“Perfect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfect. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perfect
1 of 3 adjective
per·fect
ˈpər-fikt 
1
a
: being entirely without fault or defect : flawless
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
perfect
2 of 3 verb
per·fect
pər-ˈfekt
also ˈpər-fikt
1
: to make perfect
2
: to bring to final form
perfecter
noun
perfect
3 of 3 noun
per·fect
ˈpər-fikt
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
2 of 2 transitive verb
per·fect
pər-ˈfekt
: 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 collateral—Commercial Bank v. Pride Furniture, Inc., 877 P.2d 1222 (1994)
compare attach sense 3
Commercial Bank v. Pride Furniture, Inc., 877 P.2d 1222 (1994)
: to make something (as a security interest) complete, in conformity with the law, or valid against third-party claims
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