noun
pervert
PUH-vuht
noun
1
A person whose sexual behavior or interests are considered abnormal or unacceptable.
"The police arrested a pervert who had been following women home."
verb
1
To corrupt or distort something from its original or proper purpose.
"Bribing a witness is an attempt to pervert the course of justice."
How to Use Pervert
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs a verb, to twist something away from its proper or intended use; as a noun, someone with deviant sexual behavior.
When to use it
The noun sense is a strong, judgmental label — use carefully.
Common pairings
pervert the course of justice
pervert justice
Word Forms
perverted past tense, perverts plural, perverts singular
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The police arrested a _____ who had been following women home.
Etymology
From Old French pervertir, from Latin pervertere ("to turn about, overturn, corrupt"), from per- ("thoroughly") + vertere ("to turn").