# perspective

> English word · Noun · IPA /pɚˈspɛk.tɪv/ · frequency rank #2,694

## Definitions
1. A view, vista or outlook.
2. The appearance of depth in objects, especially as perceived using binocular vision.
3. The technique of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface.
4. An artwork that represents three-dimensional objects in this way.
5. The choice of a single angle or point of view from which to sense, categorize, measure or codify experience.
6. The ability to consider things in such relative perspective.
7. A perspective glass.
8. A sound recording technique to adjust and integrate sound sources seemingly naturally.

## Etymology
From Middle English perspective, perspectif, attested since 1381, from Old French or Middle French, from the first word of the Medieval Latin perspectiva ars (“science of optics”), the feminine of Latin perspectivus (“of sight, optical”), from perspectus, the past participle of perspicere (“to inspect, look through”), itself from per- (“through”) + specere (“to look at”); the noun sense was influenced or mediated by Italian prospettiva, from prospetto (“prospect”).

## Easily confused with
- **prospective** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/perspective-vs-prospective)

## Common misspellings (17)
`eprspective`, `perpsective`, `perrspective`, `persepctive`, `perspcetive`, `perspecctive`, `perspecitve`, `perspectiev`, `perspectivve`, `perspecttive`, `perspectvie`, `perspetcive`, `persppective`, `persspective`, `pesrpective`, `pperspective`, `prespective`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/perspective