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noun

perfectionist

p-FEHK-shuh-nihst

Perfectionist (noun) means a person who refuses to accept anything less than the highest standard, often to an excessive degree. Example: “As a perfectionist, she rewrote the report five times before submitting it.”

noun
1
A person who refuses to accept anything less than the highest standard, often to an excessive degree.
"As a perfectionist, she rewrote the report five times before submitting it."
adj
1
Demanding extremely high, sometimes unreasonable, standards.
"His perfectionist tendencies made him a difficult person to work with."

How to use perfectionist

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who always wants things to be flawless, sometimes to an unhealthy extent.

Common pairings
a perfectionist streak perfectionist tendencies

Word forms

more perfectionist comparative, perfectionists plural, most perfectionist superlative

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As a _____, she rewrote the report five times before submitting it.

Etymology

Formed from "perfection" plus the suffix "-ist", denoting a person associated with a trait or belief.

Rhymes for perfectionist

See all rhymes for perfectionist →

Frequently asked questions

What does “perfectionist” mean?

The word “perfectionist” means a person who refuses to accept anything less than the highest standard, often to an excessive degree. In plain terms, someone who always wants things to be flawless, sometimes to an unhealthy extent.

How do you pronounce “perfectionist”?

“Perfectionist” is pronounced p-FEHK-shuh-nihst (/pɚˈfɛk.ʃənɪst/ in IPA).

How do you use “perfectionist” in a sentence?

Here is “perfectionist” used in a sentence: “As a perfectionist, she rewrote the report five times before submitting it.”

What part of speech is “perfectionist”?

Depending on how it is used, “perfectionist” can be a noun and an adjective.

How many meanings does “perfectionist” have?

“Perfectionist” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who refuses to accept anything less than the highest standard, often to an excessive degree.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial