perfectionism
[ per-fek-shuh-niz-uhm ]
/ pərˈfɛk ʃəˌnɪz əm /
noun
any of various doctrines holding that religious, moral, social, or political perfection is attainable.
a personal standard, attitude, or philosophy that demands perfection and rejects anything less.
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Origin of perfectionism
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; perfection + -ism
Words nearby perfectionism
perfect gas, perfectibility of man, perfectible, perfecting press, perfection, perfectionism, perfectionist, perfective, perfectivize, perfectly, perfect number
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for perfectionism
British Dictionary definitions for perfectionism
perfectionism
/ (pəˈfɛkʃəˌnɪzəm) /
noun
philosophy the doctrine that man can attain perfection in this life
the demand for the highest standard of excellence
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for perfectionism
perfectionism
[ pər-fĕk′shə-nĭz′əm ]
n.
A tendency to set rigid high standards of personal performance.
Other words from perfectionism
per•fec′tion•ist adj. n.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.