perfect

SayPUR-fikt/ˈpɝ.fɪkt/UK/ˈpɜː.fɪkt/

As a verbpur-FEKT

Verbperfects, perfecting, perfected

23 meanings of perfect

Practice

1
adjective
Exactly right for a certain person, use, or time, often used with for.
This warm jacket is perfect for camping in the mountains.
You'd be perfect for the job, because you love working with kids.
UsageUse a noun or -ing word after perfect for: perfect for camping.
Similarideal, right, suitable
Oppositeunsuitable, wrong
2
flawlessadjective
Having no faults or mistakes, and as good as something can be.
Like a glass with no cracks or scratches at all.
Her test was perfect. She didn't miss a single question.
She made a perfect dive, with hardly a splash.
UsageYou can say more perfect, meaning closer to flawless.
Similarflawless, faultless, impeccable, immaculate
Oppositeimperfect, flawed, faulty, defective
Note
3
wonderfuladjective
Very good and enjoyable in every way.
Like a day where everything goes just the way you hoped.
We had a perfect day at the beach with sunshine and ice cream.
Our holiday was perfect, with warm days, good food and no rain.
Similarideal, idyllic, wonderful, superb, delightful
Oppositeawful, terrible, dreadful
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4
refineverbtransitive
To make something as good as it can be.
Like sanding a piece of wood until it is smooth.
She practiced daily to perfect her free throw.
He worked for years to perfect the recipe.
UsageThe verb is often said per-FECT.
Similarimprove, hone, enhance, optimize
Oppositeworsen, spoil
Note
5
adjective
Exactly like what it should be or what it copies, in every detail, as in a perfect copy.
Like a key that fits its lock exactly.
A square is a perfect example of a shape with four equal sides.
He is the perfect picture of health these days.
Similarideal, exact, precise, classic, textbook
Note
6
adjective
Complete or total, used to make a word stronger, not to say that something is good.
A perfect stranger helped me carry my bags up the stairs.
I felt like a perfect fool when I walked into the wrong classroom.
UsageA perfect stranger means someone you don't know at all.
Similarcomplete, utter, total, absolute
7
adjective
Completely good, with no sin or wrongdoing.
Like someone who has never told a single lie.
The story describes a perfect being who never did wrong.
Many faiths teach that no human is truly perfect.
Similarsinless, pure, holy, blameless, faultless
Oppositesinful, imperfect, impure, flawed
Note

Less common meanings

8
adjective
Made of parts that all work well together for one goal.
Similarharmonious
Note
9
a tensenoun
In grammar, the verb form used to show a finished action.
Like a special label for verbs that talk about finished actions.
In English, the perfect is formed with "have" and a past participle.
Teachers often explain the perfect after the simple past.
UsageSay present perfect for I have eaten.
10
adjective
In grammar, showing that an action is already finished.
Like saying a job is done, not still happening.
The perfect tense shows an action that is already complete.
Use a perfect form when the action is finished.
Note
11
music intervaladjective
In music, describing certain pure intervals like the octave, fourth, and fifth.
Like notes that fit together cleanly without any clash.
A perfect fifth sounds open and stable.
Singers often warm up on a perfect octave.
Note
12
cocktailadjective
Describes a cocktail made with equal amounts of sweet and dry vermouth.
She ordered a perfect Manhattan, balanced with both sweet and dry vermouth.
A perfect martini mixes the gin with both sweet and dry vermouth.
Note
13
adjective
Knowing your lines in a play or show so well that you make no mistakes.
UsageSay perfect in her lines.
Similarword-perfect
14
adjective
In math, a number that equals the sum of the smaller numbers that divide it.
Like a number that adds up to itself from its own pieces.
Six is a perfect number because 1, 2, and 3 add up to six.
Students learn that 28 is also a perfect number.
Note
15
secure (law)verbtransitive
To do the legal step, often filing a paper, that makes a right official and protected.
Like signing and mailing a form so that what you own is officially yours.
The bank must perfect its claim by filing the right paperwork on time.
To perfect the lien, the builder recorded the document at the county office.
Note
16
floweradjective
Describes a flower that has both male and female parts.
Like a flower that holds both pieces it needs to make seeds by itself.
Tulips have perfect flowers, with both male and female parts in each one.
Roses grow perfect blooms, with stamens and carpels in the same flower.
Similarbisexual, hermaphroditic
Oppositeimperfect, unisexual
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17
matureadjective
Describes a living thing that is grown enough to breed, with its body fully formed.
Similarmature, adult
Oppositeimmature
Note
18
set (math)adjective
In math, describes a set with no lone points, which also contains every point its members crowd close to.
Our teacher showed that the Cantor set is perfect.
The Cantor set is a well-known example of a perfect set.
Note
19
adjectiveobsolete
Describes a person who is fully trained and very skilled at something.
Our Battaile is more full of Names then yours, / Our Men more perfect in the vse of Armes, / Our Armor all as strong, our Cause the best
c. 1596, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth,. Epilogue.”Here, perfect means fully trained and skilled.
Note
20
adjectiveobsolete
Describes a person who is well informed and completely sure about something.
I am perfect that the Pannonians and Dalmatians for their liberties are now in arms.
1611, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”Here, perfect means completely sure, well informed.
Note
21
adjectiveobsolete
Having a healthy mind and able to think clearly.
Pray, do not mock me. / I am a very foolish fond old man, / Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less / And, to deal plainly, / I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
c. 1603, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”Here, perfect means sane, with a sound and clear mind.
Note
22
Cathar leadernounhistoricalcountable
In the old Cathar religion, a leader who guided the group.
Like the head of a small church who guides everyone in it.
Each Cathar village looked to a perfect for spiritual guidance.
The perfects taught a simple, poor way of life.
Note
23
noun
A top score earned by finishing a level or task without any mistakes.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of perfect apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–3, 5–14, 16–22

From Latin perfectus, meaning 'finished', from a verb meaning 'to finish', built from per- ('through') and facere ('to do, make'). It came into English through Old French.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

English perfect derives ultimately from Latin perfectus through Old French. en.wiktionary.org
Latin perfectus means 'finished'. en.wiktionary.org
Perfectus comes from perficere, meaning 'to finish'. en.wiktionary.org
The Latin verb is formed from per- and facere, meaning 'through' and 'to do, make'. en.wiktionary.org
The word entered English through Old French. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 4, 15

From the adjective perfect.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

The verb perfect derives from the adjective perfect. en.wiktionary.org