perspective

UK: /pə^rˈspɛktɪv/ US: /pɚˈspɛktɪv/ ,(pər spek′tiv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

per•spec•tive /pɚˈspɛktɪv/   n. 

1. Fine Art [uncountable] a technique of drawing on a two-dimensional surface pictures of solid objects that show their relationships in three dimensions.
2. Fine Art [countable] a picture employing this technique, esp. one in which it is prominent.
3. one's opinion about facts, ideas, etc., and their relationships:
   [countable] an interesting perspective on the situation.
4. the ability to see the important facts of something in proportion to one another:
   [uncountable] Can't you put this minor setback into perspective and see that it really is for the best? Get some perspective.

adj. [before a noun]

5. of or relating to the art of perspective.

See -spec-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

per•spec•tive  (pər spek′tiv), n. 

1. Fine Art a technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface. Cf. aerial perspective, linear perspective. 
2. Fine Art a picture employing this technique, esp. one in which it is prominent:
   an architect's perspective of a house.
3. a visible scene, esp. one extending to a distance;
   vista:
   a perspective on the main axis of an estate.
4. the state of existing in space before the eye:
   The elevations look all right, but the building's composition is a failure in perspective.
5. the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship:
   You have to live here a few years to see local conditions in perspective.
6. the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship:
   Your data is admirably detailed but it lacks perspective.
7. a mental view or prospect:
   the dismal perspective of terminally ill patients.

adj. 

8. of or pertaining to the art of perspective, or represented according to its laws.

• Medieval Latin perspectīva (ars) optical (science), perspectīvum optical glass, noun, nominal uses of feminine and neuter of perspectīvus optical, equivalent. to Latin perspect-, past participle stem of perspicere to look at closely (see per-, inspect) + -īvus -ive
• Middle English 1350–1400

per•spec′tiv•al, adj. 
per•spec′tived, adj. 
per•spec′tive•less, adj. 
per•spec′tive•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

perspective / pəˈspɛktɪv/ noun

1. a way of regarding situations, facts, etc, and judging their relative importance
2. the proper or accurate point of view or the ability to see it; objectivity: try to get some perspective on your troubles
3. the theory or art of suggesting three dimensions on a two-dimensional surface, in order to recreate the appearance and spatial relationships that objects or a scene in recession present to the eye
4. the appearance of objects, buildings, etc, relative to each other, as determined by their distance from the viewer, or the effects of this distance on their appearance

Etymology: 14th Century: from Medieval Latin perspectīva ars the science of optics, from Latin perspicere to inspect carefully, from per- (intensive) + specere to behold

perˈspectively adverb