Etymologically
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perfection

Etymology and origin of the English word perfection

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
before 1225
Borrowed from
Old French perfection
Ultimate origin
Latin (perfectio)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /pəˈfek.ʃən/, US /pɚˈfek.ʃən/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Old French perfection (“perfection, completeness”) (12th century),[2][3][4] from Latin perfectiō, a finishing, completing,[2][5] from perficere, to complete (see perfect).[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The state of being complete, completion: before 1225 in the OED;[6] the consummate state that leaves nothing to be desired, the early 13th century in Etymonline.[2] The NODE gives the first sense as completeness.[4]

Semantic evolution

Flawlessness, correctness and purity is from the late 14th century,[2] about 1315 in the OED,[6] and the act of making perfect from 1382.[6] Full growth or maturity is from about 1566,[6] and a quality of great excellence from the 1570s.[2] A person or thing that embodies perfection is from 1594.[6] In music, the perfection of a note or interval is from 1614.[6]

Timeline

  • before 1225 – completion.[6]
  • c. 1315 – flawlessness.[6]
  • 1382 – making perfect.[6]
  • 1570s – an excellent quality.[2]
  • 1594 – a perfect person or thing.[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The state or quality of being perfect, free from faults.
  2. The act of making perfect.
  3. A person or thing considered perfect; an embodiment of perfection.
  4. The highest degree of a quality.

Word family

  • imperfection
  • nonperfection
  • perfectionism
  • perfectionist

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Perfection.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/perfection. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·