perfectionist

[per-fek-shuh-nist]

noun

1. a person who adheres to or believes in perfectionism.

2. a person who demands perfection of himself, herself, or others.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or distinguished by perfection or perfectionism.

Other Word Forms

• perfectionistic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perfectionist¹

First recorded in 1650–60; perfection + -ist

Example Sentences

If that makes her sound like an obsessive perfectionist, think again.

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But she developed a reputation for being a demanding perfectionist and mean, contradicting that pleasant imagery associated with her brand.

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The premise is simple — Scorsese, perfectionist filmmaker, mercilessly ridicules the photos he took of his nephew’s birthday party — but it’s his deadpan performance that really sells the joke.

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A notorious perfectionist, Springsteen labored for months on the song “Born to Run.”

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For such a perfectionist, that must have been a body blow.

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