perfectionist: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to neutral; common in psychology, workplace discourse, self-help, and everyday critique.
Quick answer
What does “perfectionist” mean?
a person who refuses to accept any standard short of perfect.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a person who refuses to accept any standard short of perfect; someone who demands the highest possible standard of themselves or others.
Often carries a psychological connotation of excessive attention to detail, sometimes linked to obsessive-compulsive personality traits. In professional contexts, it can denote admirable quality, while in personal contexts, it may suggest difficulty accepting imperfections, leading to stress or criticism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is remarkably consistent. Slight preference for 'perfectionist' as a label in American self-help/pop psychology discourse.
Connotations
Equally ambivalent in both varieties. Can imply commendable diligence or pathological inflexibility.
Frequency
Similar frequency. Possibly more common in American media discussing work ethic or personal development.
Grammar
How to Use “perfectionist” in a Sentence
[be] a perfectionist about + [noun phrase] (She's a perfectionist about her garden.)[be] a perfectionist when it comes to + [gerund/noun] (He's a perfectionist when it comes to proofreading.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “perfectionist” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This role requires one to perfectionist every detail. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- You can't just perfectionist your way through life; sometimes good enough is fine. (rare, colloquial)
adverb
British English
- He worked perfectionistically into the night. (rare, formal)
American English
- She approached the task perfectionistically. (rare, formal)
adjective
British English
- His perfectionist tendencies delayed the project. (attributive use)
American English
- She has a perfectionist streak that drives her team nuts. (attributive use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Describes employees or leaders with meticulous attention to detail; can be a strength for quality control but a weakness for deadlines.
Academic
Used in psychology literature to describe a personality trait associated with anxiety and high achievement motivation.
Everyday
Used to describe oneself or others who are very detail-oriented, often with a sigh or eye-roll.
Technical
In engineering/software, may describe a developer who refactors code endlessly.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “perfectionist”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “perfectionist”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “perfectionist”
- Using 'perfectionist' as an adjective (incorrect: 'She is very perfectionist.' Correct: 'She is very perfectionistic.' or 'She is a perfectionist.').
- Confusing 'perfectionist' (person) with 'perfectionism' (trait).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is context-dependent. It's good for roles requiring extreme precision (e.g., surgeon, watchmaker) but bad when it causes paralysis, missed deadlines, or undue stress on teams.
A high achiever strives for excellence and can be satisfied with outstanding results. A perfectionist strives for an often unattainable 'perfect' standard and may be dissatisfied even with excellent results, focusing on tiny flaws.
Only attributively before a noun ('perfectionist chef'). The standard adjective is 'perfectionistic'. Saying 'She is very perfectionist' is considered non-standard by most style guides.
In clinical psychology, perfectionism is a common trait in Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), but it is not the same as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Perfectionism is about standards and order, while OCD involves intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals.
a person who refuses to accept any standard short of perfect.
Perfectionist is usually formal to neutral; common in psychology, workplace discourse, self-help, and everyday critique. in register.
Perfectionist: in British English it is pronounced /pəˈfek.ʃən.ɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /pɚˈfek.ʃən.ɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A perfectionist is his own worst critic.”
- “The perfectionist's curse is never being satisfied.”
- “Striving for excellence, not perfection (common self-help advice to counter perfectionism).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: PERFECT + ION (action/state) + IST (person). A person in the *state* of needing everything to be *perfect*.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERFECTION IS A TARGET / GOAL (aiming for perfection), PERFECTIONISM IS A PRISON (trapped by one's own standards), PERFECTIONISM IS A BURDEN (heavy to carry).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'perfectionist' LEAST likely to be used positively?