perfectionism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Psychological
Quick answer
What does “perfectionism” mean?
A personality trait characterized by a striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high performance standards, accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others' evaluations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A personality trait characterized by a striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high performance standards, accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others' evaluations.
In philosophy, the concept that the highest ethical good is the perfection of human nature. In common usage, can imply an unattainable or impractical standard that hinders progress or causes distress.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The related adjective 'perfectionist' is used identically.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be used in clinical/psychological contexts in American English.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “perfectionism” in a Sentence
Perfectionism in [noun]Perfectionism about [noun/gerund]Perfectionism that [clause]Perfectionism leads to [noun]Perfectionism stems from [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “perfectionism” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- His perfectionism meant the report was submitted a week late.
- A certain degree of perfectionism is expected in this field.
American English
- Her perfectionism is getting in the way of actually finishing the project.
- The therapy focused on managing his unhealthy perfectionism.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'The project delays were due to the manager's counterproductive perfectionism.'
Academic
'The study examined the correlation between multidimensional perfectionism and burnout in graduate students.'
Everyday
'My perfectionism means I spend hours rewriting a simple email.'
Technical
'Adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism represent two distinct facets of the construct.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “perfectionism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “perfectionism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “perfectionism”
- Using 'perfectionism' to describe a positive quality without acknowledging potential negative consequences (e.g., 'Her perfectionism is why she's successful' – better: 'Her attention to detail...').
- Confusing 'perfectionism' (trait) with 'perfection' (state).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Psychologists often distinguish between 'adaptive/healthy perfectionism' (striving for excellence, taking pride in work) and 'maladaptive/unhealthy perfectionism' (setting unrealistic standards, fear of failure, self-criticism). The latter is linked to anxiety, depression, and burnout.
A diligent person works hard and carefully to achieve high standards. A perfectionist is often unable to feel satisfied with their work, fears making mistakes, and may struggle to complete tasks due to endlessly revising them to meet an impossible ideal.
Yes, through therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps individuals challenge their all-or-nothing thinking, develop more realistic standards, and reduce the fear of failure and harsh self-judgment.
It is exclusively a noun. The related adjective is 'perfectionistic' or the more common noun-agent 'perfectionist' (which can also be used as an adjective: 'a perfectionist attitude').
A personality trait characterized by a striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high performance standards, accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others' evaluations.
Perfectionism is usually formal, academic, psychological in register.
Perfectionism: in British English it is pronounced /pəˈfɛk.ʃən.ɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /pərˈfɛk.ʃən.ɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Paralysis by analysis (related concept)”
- “The perfect is the enemy of the good”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PERFECTIONISM = PERFECT + I + ON + ISM (a doctrine or system). Think: 'The ISM (system) where I must be ON PERFECT all the time.'
Conceptual Metaphor
PERFECTIONISM IS A TYRANT/MASTER (e.g., 'a slave to perfectionism'), PERFECTIONISM IS A BARRIER/ROADBLOCK (e.g., 'perfectionism held her back'), PERFECTIONISM IS A BURDEN (e.g., 'the weight of his own perfectionism').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'maladaptive perfectionism'?