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Perfectionism: meaning, definitions and examples

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perfectionism

 

[ pəˈfɛkʃ(ə)nɪz(ə)m ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

mental health

Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by a person's striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high performance standards, accompanied by critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others' evaluations.

Synonyms

excessive idealism, overachievement.

Examples of usage

  • Her perfectionism led to feelings of anxiety and stress.
  • Perfectionism can sometimes interfere with completing tasks efficiently.
Context #2 | Noun

psychology

Perfectionism can be a defense mechanism used to cope with feelings of inadequacy or low self-worth. It is often associated with a fear of failure and can lead to procrastination or avoidance of tasks.

Synonyms

perfectionist tendencies, self-criticism.

Examples of usage

  • His perfectionism stemmed from a fear of not being good enough.
  • Perfectionism can manifest as an avoidance of situations where one might not excel.

Translations

Translations of the word "perfectionism" in other languages:

🇵🇹 perfeccionismo

🇮🇳 पूर्णतावाद

🇩🇪 Perfektionismus

🇮🇩 perfeksionisme

🇺🇦 перфекціонізм

🇵🇱 perfekcjonizm

🇯🇵 完璧主義 (kanpeki shugi)

🇫🇷 perfectionnisme

🇪🇸 perfeccionismo

🇹🇷 mükemmeliyetçilik

🇰🇷 완벽주의 (wanbyeokjuui)

🇸🇦 الكمالية

🇨🇿 perfekcionismus

🇸🇰 perfekcionizmus

🇨🇳 完美主义 (wánměi zhǔyì)

🇸🇮 perfekcionizem

🇮🇸 fullkomnunarárátta

🇰🇿 перфекционизм

🇬🇪 პერფექციონიზმი

🇦🇿 perfeksionizm

🇲🇽 perfeccionismo

Etymology

The concept of perfectionism has roots in ancient Greek philosophy, particularly in the teachings of Aristotle. The modern understanding of perfectionism as a psychological trait emerged in the 20th century, influenced by the work of psychologists such as Alfred Adler and Karen Horney. Perfectionism is now recognized as a complex trait with both positive and negative aspects, impacting various areas of life.

See also: imperfect, imperfection, perfect, perfecting, perfection, perfectionist, perfectly.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,874, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.