perfect

/ˈpɜː.fɪkt/

//ˈpɜː.fɪkt// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"perfect" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“perfect” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #639 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#639
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Fitting its definition precisely.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

perfect vs pervert
71% similar
perfect vs prefect
71% similar
perfect vs perfectly
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for perfect
PropertyValue
Headwordperfect
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈpɜː.fɪkt/
Letters7
Frequency rank#639
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “perfect” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). perfect lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for perfect is 7 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɜː.fɪkt/. Corpus data places it at rank #639 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 19 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for perfect, with forms such as "eprfect", "pefrect", and "perefct". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "pervert", "prefect", "perfectly", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: 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 … The correct English form is perfect, spelled P-E-R-F-E-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    Fitting its definition precisely.
  2. 2
    Having all of its parts in harmony with a common purpose.
  3. 3
    Without fault or mistake; without flaw, of supreme quality.
  4. 4
    Without fault or mistake; without flaw, of supreme quality.
  5. 5
    Without fault or mistake; without flaw, of supreme quality.
  6. 6
    Without fault or mistake; without flaw, of supreme quality.
  7. 7
    Without fault or mistake; without flaw, of supreme quality.
  8. 8
    Excellent and delightful in all respects.
  9. 9
    Morally or spiritually immaculate or ideal.
  10. 10
    Representing a completed action.
  11. 11
    Sexually mature and fully differentiated.
  12. 12
    Having both male parts (stamens) and female parts (carpels).
  13. 13
    Equal to the sum of its proper divisors.
  14. 14
    Equal to its set of limit points, i.e. set A is perfect if A=A'.
  15. 15
    Describing an interval or any compound interval of a unison, octave, or fourths and fifths that are not tritones.
  16. 16
    Made with equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth.
  17. 17
    Well informed; certain; sure.
  18. 18
    Innocent, guiltless; without blemish.
  19. 19
    Sane, of sound mind.

Etymology

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.

Synonyms

accurateflawlessfaultlessinfallibleexpertproficientmaturebisexualhermaphroditic

Antonyms

flawedfaultyfaultfulfallibleimperfect

This word in other languages

perfecto(Español)parfait(Français)perfekt(Deutsch)perfeito(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eprfect,pefrect,perefct,perfcet,perfecct,perfectt,perfetc,perffect,perrfect,pperfect

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of perfect - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

eprfect2pefrect2perefct2perfcet2perfecct1perfectt1perfetc2perffect1
Edit distance from "perfect"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "perfect"?
"perfect" is spelled P-E-R-F-E-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɜː.fɪkt/.
What does "perfect" mean?
As an adjective, "perfect" means: Fitting its definition precisely.
What words are commonly confused with "perfect"?
"perfect" is commonly confused with "pervert", "prefect", "perfectly". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "perfect"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "perfect" is /ˈpɜː.fɪkt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "perfect"?
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 c... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “perfect”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is P-E-R-F-E-C-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɜː.fɪkt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “pervert” - see the side-by-side comparison. perfect vs pervert
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list