perversion

American  

[per-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn] / pərˈvɜr ʒən, -ʃən /

noun

• perversions
  plural

1. the act of perverting.

2. the state of being perverted.

3. a perverted form of something.

4. any of various means of obtaining sexual gratification that are generally regarded as being abnormal.

5. Pathology. a change to what is unnatural or abnormal.

   a perversion of function or structure.

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perversion British  

/ pəˈvɜːʃən /

noun

1. any abnormal means of obtaining sexual satisfaction

2. the act of perverting or the state of being perverted

3. a perverted form or usage

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonperversion
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• perversions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of perversion

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin perversiōn- (stem of perversiō ). See perverse, -ion

Explanation

Although most often used to refer to some sort of psychological corruption or abnormal behavior (usually sexual), the word perversion can actually refer to anything that is used for a distorted or wrong purpose. The Latin word pervertere, which means "turn around," serves as the basis for the noun perversion, suggesting something that is contrary to something else. The word developed a religious meaning in the 15th century, when it came to be used to refer to any distortion of church doctrine. Around 1700, the word developed a secular meaning, denoting what was considered deviant sexual behavior — often any sexual behavior other than that used to reproduce.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

perversion perversions

Many articles, papers and books have been written about this, but “Beef” boils it down to the system’s inevitable perversion of simple affection.

From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026

Meanwhile, the perversion of ordinary goods to serve a fully militarized state is encapsulated in the difficulty the boy has in finding white flour: None is available because it’s being used to stanch wounds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

Attorney Alexandra Shapiro called Combs' 50-month prison sentence "unlawful, unconstitutional, and a perversion of justice".

From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2025

Advocates say the technology simply takes the principle of efficient pricing to its logical extreme; critics say it’s unfair, discriminatory and a perversion of free-market capitalism.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2024

Since each of the three superstates is unconquerable, each is in effect a separate universe within which almost any perversion of thought can be safely practiced.

From "1984" by George Orwell

"It was never going to end well, and his downfall was inevitable. Eventually his lies caught up with him and he is now facing the consequences of his deceit, and his perversions."

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2025

It’s OK that the living and breathing digital archive of our fantasies is also an archive of our perversions and failures.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2024

This also speaks to the hollowness that all ideological language contains, to paraphrase Orwell, in its swindles and perversions, its slovenliness and vagueness.

From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2023

Unlike “Go, Went, Gone,” which critiqued the power structures that enable perversions and prejudices to flower, “The Laughter” seems to argue that the worst consequences of these structures are immutable and inevitable.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 15, 2023

The stoic, to whom pain is no evil, and the Indian laughing and singing at the stake, are partly actors and partly perversions of humanity.

From The Gospel According to St. Mark by G. A. Chadwick