Perfect

/ˈpɜːrfɪkt/

adjectiveBeginner🔥Very CommonQuality
3 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

Being entirely without fault or defect; flawless.

/ˈpɜːrfɪkt/

adjectivepositiveBeginner
Quality

Without any flaws or defects.

The artist created a perfect replica of the statue.

💡 Simply: Like when everything is just right, with no mistakes! Like a perfectly cooked pizza.

👶 For kids: When something is so good, it has no mistakes or problems.

More Examples

2

She has a perfect memory.

3

The weather was perfect for a day at the beach.

How It's Used

General

"A perfect day for a picnic."

Business

"The company strives to provide perfect customer service."

Art/Music

"Her performance was considered perfect."

2

To make something completely correct or flawless; to improve to the point of being faultless.

/pərˈfekt/

verbneutralmedium
Action

To make something completely free from flaws or defects.

She perfected her French accent.

💡 Simply: To make something as good as it can possibly be. Like practicing piano until you can play a piece perfectly.

👶 For kids: To make something super good by fixing any mistakes.

More Examples

2

The chef spent hours trying to perfect the recipe.

3

They worked hard to perfect the software.

How It's Used

General

"He perfected his technique over years of practice."

Technical

"The engineers worked to perfect the design."

Tip:Think of someone striving to 'perfect' their golf swing through dedicated practice.
3

To bring to completion or to the best possible form.

/pərˈfekt/

verbneutralAdvanced
Action

To bring to completion.

The artist aimed to perfect his final sculpture.

💡 Simply: Making something finish completely to its best state.

👶 For kids: To make something completely finished and really good.

More Examples

2

The team hoped to perfect their new project.

How It's Used

Literary

"She perfected her work."

Tip:Imagine completing a masterpiece, bringing it to its perfected form.

Idioms & expressions

perfect storm

An exceptionally bad or disastrous situation, one made worse by the coming together of many negative factors.

"The company faced a perfect storm of economic downturn and poor management."

From Latin *perfectus*, past participle of *perficere* "to complete, accomplish," from *per-* "thoroughly" + *facere* "to do, make."

Used since the 14th century to describe something completely finished or faultless.

Memory tip

Imagine a perfectly symmetrical snowflake - no imperfections!

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"completed, finished"

perfect exampleperfect opportunityperfect solutionperfect weatherperfect world

Common misspellings

perffectperfekt

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written