Perfect Meaning
/ˈpɜː.fɪkt/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjFitting its definition precisely.
adjHaving all of its parts in harmony with a common purpose.
Sentence Examples
To be perfect she lacked just one defect.
You've done a perfect job.
Everyone liked my father—he was the perfect gentleman.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After weeks of practice, her piano performance was absolutely ____ with no mistakes.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She spent weeks rehearsing until her performance was as close to ____ as she could make it.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English perfit, from Old French parfit (modern: parfait), from Latin perfectus, perfect passive participle of perficere (“to finish”), from per- (“through, thorough”) + facere (“to do, to make”). The spelling was modified in the 15th century to conform to its Latin etymon. Doublet of parfait, perfecto, and perfectus. Displaced native Old English fulfremed.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
— 1787, Gouverneur Morris, Preamble to the United States Constitution:
"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. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], lines 152–154:
"And was the day of my delight
As pure and perfect as I say?
The very source and fount of Day
Is dash’d with wandering isles of night."
— 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXIV”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 41:
"They burned the old gun that used to stand in the dark corner up in the garret, close to the stuffed fox that always grinned so fiercely. Perhaps the reason why he seemed in such a ghastly rage was that he did not come by his death fairly. Otherwise his pelt would not have been so perfect. And why else was he put away up there out of sight?—and so magnificent a brush as he had too."
— 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
"Marke the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace"
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 37:37:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After weeks of practice, her piano performance was absolutely ____ with no mistakes.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She spent weeks rehearsing until her performance was as close to ____ as she could make it.