pert

adjective

ˈpərt 

1

a

: saucily free and forward : flippantly cocky and assured

b

: being trim and chic : jaunty

a pert little hat

c

: piquantly stimulating

is a pert notion

2

: lively, vivacious

pertly adverb

pertness noun

Synonyms of pert

• lively
• energetic
• animated
• animate
• active
• brisk
• bouncing
• perky

Examples of pert in a Sentence

a pert girl who is a member of the cheerleading squad

a pert retort that irritated the teacher

Recent Examples on the Web

At the Sceners Gallery on the eastern edge of Paris, far from the Metropolitan Museum, where Kim Kardashian arrived at the Met Gala in a metallic orange breastplate with pert breasts and curvaceous hips, there are several examples of the art that inspired her. —Amy Verner, Vogue, 7 May 2026

Barry’s one was just the opposite – full of pert remarks. —Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026

With a bit of slow cooking, those impossibly pert, shiny tomatoes relax and soften, releasing their juices to mingle in a deeply satisfying dish. —Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026

Boonbunchachoke’s strange and funny script is constructed of multiple nesting stories, like how my own vacuum pops out a pert little dustbuster that really digs into the cracks. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, evident, attractive, saucy, short for apert evident, from Anglo-French, from Latin apertus open, from past participle of aperire to open

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for pert

• blurt
• chert
• curt
• dirt
• flirt
• girt
• hurt
• peart
• shirt
• skirt
• spurt
• squirt

Kids Definition

pert

adjective

ˈpərt 

1

: impudent

2

: being trim and chic

3

: vivacious, lively

pertly adverb

pertness noun