1
a
: being entirely without fault or defect : flawless
a perfect diamond
b
: satisfying all requirements : accurate
c
: corresponding to an ideal standard or abstract concept
a perfect gentleman
d
: faithfully reproducing the original
specifically
: letter-perfect
e
: legally valid
2
: expert, proficient
practice makes perfect
3
b
: lacking in no essential detail : complete
c
obsolete
: sane
d
: absolute, unequivocal
enjoys perfect happiness
e
: of an extreme kind : unmitigated
a perfect brat
an act of perfect foolishness
4
obsolete
: mature
5
: of, relating to, or constituting a verb form or verbal that expresses an action or state completed at the time of speaking or at a time spoken of
7
of a musical interval
: belonging to the consonances unison, fourth, fifth, and octave which become augmented or diminished when raised or lowered by a half step
8
a
: sexually mature and fully differentiated
a perfect insect
b
: having both stamens and pistils in the same flower
a perfect flower
perfected; perfecting; perfects
perfecter
noun
: the perfect tense of a language
also
: a verb form in the perfect tense
Examples of perfect in a Sentence
Adjective
He drew a perfect circle.
She's a perfect baby. She hardly cries and she sleeps through the night.
His behavior is a perfect example of what not to do.
This is a perfect time to have a wedding.
Going to the museum was a perfect way to spend a rainy day.
“Is that a big enough piece of pie?” “Yes, it's perfect, thanks.”
Verb
perfected the arrangements for their long-awaited European vacation
an art teacher who seems to believe that you can always perfect a painting with some additional brush strokes
Recent Examples on the Web
Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
And so Rice and Smith, to me, are a perfect complement.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
AFAR Media, 24 Oct. 2025
Andrés worked alongside Delta’s team to perfect the dishes’ in-flight preparation and presentation.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2025
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
So, act fast and order your Gucci loafer dupes before your perfect (and affordable) fall shoe is gone.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perfect
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Adjective
The 26-year-old was caught offside no fewer than eight times during a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona back in November, many of which after inch-perfect movement from Pau Cubarsi to step up and leave the centre-forward marginally ahead of the defensive line.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
And so Rice and Smith, to me, are a perfect complement.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Enjoy tennis, pickleball, and padel courts and perfect your swing on the 18 holes of the Greg Norman–designed El Camaleón Golf Course, which weaves through jungle, canals, and coastline.
—AFAR Media, 24 Oct. 2025
Andrés worked alongside Delta’s team to perfect the dishes’ in-flight preparation and presentation.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
From the Great Smoky Mountains to the Blue Ridge Mountains –and all the foothills in between—there are dozens upon dozens of towns big and small perfect for a weekend away.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
So, act fast and order your Gucci loafer dupes before your perfect (and affordable) fall shoe is gone.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perfect
Cite this Entry
“Perfect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfect. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perfect
1 of 3 adjective
per·fect
ˈpər-fikt 
1
a
: being entirely without fault or defect : flawless
c
: pure sense 3, total
perfect stillness
2
: of an extreme kind
a perfect fool
3
: of, relating to, or being a verb form in the perfect tense
4
: having both stamens and pistil
a perfect flower
perfect
2 of 3 verb
per·fect
pər-ˈfekt
also ˈpər-fikt
1
: to make perfect
2
: to bring to final form
perfecter
noun
perfect
3 of 3 noun
per·fect
ˈpər-fikt
1
2
: a verb form in the perfect tense
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English perfit "complete, thoroughly or accurately done," from early French parfit (same meaning), from Latin perfectus "complete, perfect," derived from perficere "to carry out, complete," from per- "completely" and -ficere, from facere "to make, do" — related to artificial, fashion, satisfy
Legal Definition
perfect
2 of 2 transitive verb
per·fect
pər-ˈfekt
: to complete or put in final conformity with the law: as
a
: to make (an appeal) ready for transfer to an appeals court by satisfying procedural requirements
b
: to put (one's security interest) in a position or status having priority over subsequently perfected security interests or unperfected security interests by taking statutorily prescribed steps to give notice especially by filing a financing statement or taking possession of the collateral
was the first creditor to perfect its security interest in the debtor's collateral, and, thus, was the first in priority for the collateral—Commercial Bank v. Pride Furniture, Inc., 877 P.2d 1222 (1994)
compare attach sense 3
Commercial Bank v. Pride Furniture, Inc., 877 P.2d 1222 (1994)
: to make something (as a security interest) complete, in conformity with the law, or valid against third-party claims
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