perfect rhyme: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal / Literary / Technical
Quick answer
What does “perfect rhyme” mean?
An exact, full correspondence between the final stressed vowel and all following sounds of two or more words, forming the most complete type of rhyme.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An exact, full correspondence between the final stressed vowel and all following sounds of two or more words, forming the most complete type of rhyme.
In poetic terminology, a perfect rhyme (or full rhyme) is a fundamental prosodic device where words or syllables share identical vowel sounds in the stressed syllable and identical subsequent consonant sounds (if any), creating a sense of harmony and resolution. It also refers informally to an ideal match or fit between concepts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage between UK and US English.
Connotations
Technical/poetic term. No regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, appearing almost exclusively in literary, linguistic, or educational contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “perfect rhyme” in a Sentence
X (e.g., 'cat') forms a perfect rhyme with Y (e.g., 'hat').A and B are a perfect rhyme.The poem relies on perfect rhymes.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “perfect rhyme” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lyricist struggled to perfect a rhyme for 'orange'.
American English
- She worked to perfect the rhyme scheme of her sonnet.
adjective
British English
- The poet favoured a perfect rhyme scheme over more modern half-rhymes.
American English
- 'Cat' and 'hat' are a perfect rhyme pair.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in literary analysis, poetry workshops, and linguistics papers on phonology or poetics.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used by someone discussing song lyrics or poetry in a non-expert way.
Technical
The primary context. Used with precise definition in prosody, phonetics, and lyric writing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “perfect rhyme”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “perfect rhyme”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “perfect rhyme”
- Using 'perfect rhyme' to describe any rhyme that sounds good, rather than the specific technical type.
- Confusing it with words that simply end with the same letters (eye rhyme), like 'love' and 'move'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. They are an 'eye rhyme' (spelled similarly but pronounced differently). A perfect rhyme requires identical pronunciation of the relevant vowel and following consonant sounds.
A perfect rhyme has exact correspondence in sound. A slant rhyme (or half-rhyme) has only partial correspondence, such as matching consonants but not vowels (e.g., 'worm'/'swarm'), or similar but not identical vowels.
Yes. 'Hollow' and 'follow' is a perfect rhyme if the stress is on the first syllable and the '-ow' sound is identical. This is sometimes called a 'feminine' or 'double' rhyme.
Overuse can sound childish or sing-song. Slant rhymes create subtler, more complex, or surprising sonic connections, which many modern poets and songwriters prefer for its less predictable effect.
An exact, full correspondence between the final stressed vowel and all following sounds of two or more words, forming the most complete type of rhyme.
Perfect rhyme is usually formal / literary / technical in register.
Perfect rhyme: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpɜː.fɪkt ˈraɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɝː.fɪkt ˈraɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a perfect rhyme for... (metaphorical use)”
- “They're a perfect rhyme. (colloquial, rare, meaning a perfect match)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Perfect Rhyme sounds like 'PERFECT TIMing' – both the vowel sound AND the consonant sounds after it must match perfectly and in time.
Conceptual Metaphor
RHYME IS A MATCH / CORRESPONDENCE (A perfect rhyme is a perfect match of sounds).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following pairs is a perfect rhyme?