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perspective

American  

[per-spek-tiv] / pərˈspɛk tɪv /

noun

• perspectives
  plural

1. 

   a technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface.

2. a picture employing this technique, especially one in which it is prominent.

   an architect's perspective of a house.

3. a visible scene, especially one extending to a distance; vista.

   a perspective on the main axis of an estate.

4. the state of existing in space before the eye.

   The elevations look all right, but the building's composition is a failure in perspective.

5. the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship.

   You have to live here a few years to see local conditions in perspective.

6. the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship.

   Your data is admirably detailed but it lacks perspective.

7. a mental view or prospect.

   the dismal perspective of terminally ill patients.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the art of perspective, or represented according to its laws.

perspective British  

/ pəˈspɛktɪv /

noun

1. a way of regarding situations, facts, etc, and judging their relative importance

2. the proper or accurate point of view or the ability to see it; objectivity

   try to get some perspective on your troubles

3. the theory or art of suggesting three dimensions on a two-dimensional surface, in order to recreate the appearance and spatial relationships that objects or a scene in recession present to the eye

4. the appearance of objects, buildings, etc, relative to each other, as determined by their distance from the viewer, or the effects of this distance on their appearance

5. a view over some distance in space or time; vista; prospect

6. a picture showing perspective

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perspective Cultural  

1. In drawing or painting, a way of portraying three dimensions on a flat, two-dimensional surface by suggesting depth or distance.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonperspective
  noun
• perspectival
  adjective
• perspectived
  adjective
• perspectiveless
  adjective
• perspectively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• perspectives
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of perspective

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin perspectīva (ars) “optical (science),” perspectīvum “optical glass,” noun uses of feminine and neuter of perspectīvus “optical,” equivalent to Latin perspect(us) “looked at closely,” past participle of perspicere “to look at closely” ( see per-, inspect) + -īvus -ive

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Explanation

Your perspective is the way you see something. If you think that toys corrupt children's minds, then from your perspective a toy shop is an evil place. Perspective has a Latin root meaning "look through" or "perceive," and all the meanings of perspective have something to do with looking. If you observe the world from a dog's perspective, you see through the dog's eyes. In drawing, perspective gives your drawing the appearance of depth or distance. If we say someone "has perspective," we mean she has a sensible outlook on life.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

perspective perspectives

To get Chris Stansbury’s perspective, read on here with Walden Siew, in today’s Morning Ledger newsletter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

I understand that the details will need to be worked out with my attorney and CPA, but I would appreciate hearing your perspective and ideas before moving forward.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026

Being a Sri Lankan while living in the U.K. has shaped the comedic perspective of Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

They have created an environment of complete precision, not only in engineering, but also in process, because they simply can't afford financially or from a race perspective to slip up.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

The view from Bailey’s perspective looks impossible, a bit of leg here, the curve of a shoulder there, part of her other arm underneath a foot.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

The online session will bring together a number of professionals and personal perspectives on menopause, and will be an open conversation format rather than a traditional webinar or expert panel.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

With 19 policymakers, it is difficult to make progress given diverse individual perspectives, strongly held views and the challenge of reforming such a complicated beast.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Booking and paying queer DJs with unique perspectives is important to the event.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

"By combining physiological measurements with participants' subjective assessments, we were able to examine sleep from multiple perspectives under everyday home conditions, which was an important aspect of this study," emphasizes Shimizu.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

In the end, both of these perspectives are defeatist.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

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Related Words

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