Perfectionists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of individuals who strive for flawless execution in their endeavors
2. People characterized by an unwavering pursuit of excellence, often leading to high personal standards
3. Individuals who tend to focus on eliminating imperfections and achieving ideal outcomes in their work and life

Etymology: "Perfectionist" was formed in English from "perfection," which came into Middle English from Old French "perfeccion," from Latin "perfectio," a noun built on "perficere," meaning "to complete" or "to carry through to the end." The "-ist" ending comes from Greek "-istes," marking a person who adheres to a practice or belief, so the word is simply a person devoted to completeness. Its earliest sense was religious: "perfectionist" was used of people who believed a state of sinless perfection was attainable in this life, a view associated with some Christian groups in the 1600s and 1700s. The plural "perfectionists" is simply the noun in its plural form, referring to more than one such person.

Synonyms: idealist, perfectionist

Antonyms: realist