perfection

US/pɚˈfɛk.ʃən/

nounB2Common in everyday speech and writing · #3,577 of 15,258neutral

Other forms: perfections

Perfection is the state of having no fault at all. Nothing to add, nothing to take away.

It is a standard almost nothing meets, which is why the word so often appears with a hint of warning. To perfection means done exactly right, so a steak cooked to perfection is a compliment. Perfectionism is the trait of demanding it, and it is as much a burden as a virtue. There is a proverb about the danger of it, since the perfect being the enemy of the good means holding out for perfection stops anything getting finished.

Definitions of perfection

1nounperfectionThe state of being completely without fault.B2
“He rehearsed the piece to perfection.”

Phrases it lives in

to perfection — exactly right, with nothing left to fault

Where it comes from

Latin
perfectiō
Old French
perfection
Middle English
perfeccioun
English, today
perfection

From Middle English perfeccioun, from Old French perfection, from Latin perfectiō. by surface analysis, perfect + -ion. Displaced native fulfremednes.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in A Man Called Ove

First appears in chapter 36 of A Man Called Ove.

Practise this word

perfection in the wild

An angler's loop, otherwise known as a perfection loop, is a type of knot which forms a fixed loop.
Angler's loop
The Catholic Church teaches that Christian perfection is to be sought after by all of the just (righteous).
Christian perfection
Eastern Orthodoxy situates Christian perfection as a goal for all Christians.
Christian perfection

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

the perfectiō family

perfection

perfection — used about once every 621 pages · #3,577 · point at the bar for the others

← Vocabulary

perfection

US/pɚˈfɛk.ʃən/

nounB2Common in everyday speech and writing · #3,577 of 15,258neutral

Other forms: perfections

Perfection is the state of having no fault at all. Nothing to add, nothing to take away.

Definitions of perfection

1nounperfectionThe state of being completely without fault.B2
“He rehearsed the piece to perfection.”

Phrases it lives in

to perfection — exactly right, with nothing left to fault

Where it comes from

Latin
perfectiō
Old French
perfection
Middle English
perfeccioun
English, today
perfection

From Middle English perfeccioun, from Old French perfection, from Latin perfectiō. by surface analysis, perfect + -ion. Displaced native fulfremednes.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in A Man Called Ove

First appears in chapter 36 of A Man Called Ove.

Practise this word

perfection in the wild

An angler's loop, otherwise known as a perfection loop, is a type of knot which forms a fixed loop.
Angler's loop
The Catholic Church teaches that Christian perfection is to be sought after by all of the just (righteous).
Christian perfection
Eastern Orthodoxy situates Christian perfection as a goal for all Christians.
Christian perfection

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

the perfectiō family

perfection

perfection — used about once every 621 pages · #3,577 · point at the bar for the others