perspective

1 of 3

noun (1)

per·​spec·​tive pər-ˈspek-tiv How to pronounce perspective (audio)
1
a
: a mental view or prospect
to gain a broader perspective on the international sceneCurrent Biography
b
: a visible scene
especially : one giving a distinctive impression of distance : vista
2
a
: the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed
places the issues in proper perspective
also : point of view
b
: the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance
trying to maintain my perspective
3
: the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance and positions
4
a
: the technique or process of representing on a plane or curved surface the spatial relation of objects as they might appear to the eye
specifically : representation in a drawing or painting of parallel lines as converging in order to give the illusion of depth and distance
b
: a picture in perspective
perspectival
pər-ˈspek-ti-vəl How to pronounce perspective (audio)
ˌpər-(ˌ)spek-ˈtī-vəl
adjective

perspective

2 of 3

adjective

1
: of, relating to, employing, or seen in perspective
perspective drawing
2
obsolete : aiding the vision
his eyes should be like unto the wrong end of a perspective glassAlexander Pope
perspectively adverb

perspective

3 of 3

noun (2)

archaic
: an optical glass (such as a telescope)

Did you know?

To the modern mind, it's hard to believe that perspective had to be "discovered", but before the 1400s paintings simply lacked accurate perspective. Instead, important people and objects were simply shown larger than less important ones; and although distant objects were sometimes shown smaller than near ones, this wasn't done in a regular and accurate way. Just as odd, many paintings didn't represent the other meaning of perspective either—that is, a scene might not be shown as if it were being seen from one single place. Today, perspective is used much like standpoint. Just as standpoint once used to mean simply the physical place where you stand but today also means the way you "see" things as a result of who you are and what you do, the same could be said about perspective.

Examples of perspective in a Sentence

Noun (1) The elegant economy of the drawing and the wild inventiveness of such pictorial devices as the towering pitcher's mound and the impossible perspective of Snoopy's doghouse keep the repetitiveness, talkiness, and melancholy of the strip a few buoyant inches off the ground, and save it from being fey. John Updike, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2007
Courses offer an international perspective, so even a lesson on the American Revolution will interweave sources from Britain and France with views from the Founding Fathers. Claudia Wallis et al., Time, 18 Dec. 2006
Tipper and I still marvel at everything we saw and the perspective it offered. At a moment when the country was still in the throes of the conflict over Vietnam, it was refreshing to see the best of America. Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Hike below the rim: Take a hike down the Bright Angel or South Kaibab trail as the change in perspective offers different photographs. Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 Here are a few more perspectives from L.A. Times columnists on the primaries and what to expect in the coming weeks and months. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 As for whether this is true to what life is actually like as a pop star, Bareilles, says it’s given her some perspective. Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024 Encourage Empathy: This is a great time to teach kids to consider others’ feelings and perspectives. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024 For the new collaboration, AP brings its technical prowess while harnessing Mayer’s creative edge to infuse a new perspective into the iconic model. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 Leveraging insights from perspectives from seasoned professionals in the tax strategy arena, this article is your gateway to understanding how these roles differ and intersect, guiding you to align your career path with the industry’s evolving demands. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Their rich and varied backgrounds contribute to a comprehensive understanding of both the artistic and thematic nuances relevant to the call, offering invaluable insights from a global perspective. Vogue, 7 Mar. 2024 But that is life in deep time, where our perspective is shifted from what our short human lifespans (~75 years, or 0.000002% of the planet's history ... or 0.1 inches of our mile). Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Thinking of evolution in terms of singularities is a perspective shift for a field where processes are generally understood to unfold incrementally and slowly. Popular Science, 22 Feb. 2024 The cottages will be selling traditional food from their perspective countries. San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Dec. 2022 Before facing DeMatha, Screen was taking standard college visits with other perspective students, unsure if high-level basketball was in his future. Akeem Glaspie, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Jan. 2024 The ordeal triggered a perspective shift for Khaled. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2023 Download a photo editing app like Adobe Lightroom or Snapseed to access more features like healing and perspective correction. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2023 The author used this prompt to generate images of an octopus-like robot: Futuristic electrical octopus robot, technical design, perspective industrial design, copic style, cinematic high detail, moody grading, white background. IEEE Spectrum, 14 Oct. 2023 The result can be a perspective shift, even in areas of relative shelter from the effects of climate change. Millie Brigaud, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Sep. 2023 Introducing Dahmer, meanwhile, starts without sound, then gradually adds Dahmer’s voice, a perspective switch intended to invoke dread. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perspective.' 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

Noun (1)

Middle French, probably modification of Old Italian prospettiva, from prospetto view, prospect, from Latin prospectus — more at prospect

Adjective

Middle English, optical, from Medieval Latin perspectivus

Noun (2)

Middle English perspectyf, from Medieval Latin perspectivum, from neuter of perspectivus of sight, optical, from Latin perspectus, past participle of perspicere to look through, see clearly, from per- through + specere to look — more at per-, spy

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near perspective

Cite this Entry

“Perspective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perspective. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

perspective

1 of 2 noun
per·​spec·​tive pər-ˈspek-tiv How to pronounce perspective (audio)
1
: the art or technique of painting or drawing a scene so that objects in it seem to have depth and distance
2
a
: the relationship in which a subject or its parts are viewed mentally
places the issues in perspective
b
: point of view
from a conservative perspective
3
: the power to understand things in their true relationship to each other
try to keep your perspective and not get flustered
4
: the appearance to the eye of objects in space with respect to their distance and positions in relation to each other

perspective

2 of 2 adjective
: of, relating to, or seen in perspective

More from Merriam-Webster on perspective

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