perversion

UK: /pə^rˈvɜː^rʃ^ən/

US: /pɚˈvɝʒən, -ʃən/

US: (pər vûr′zhən, -shən)

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

per•ver•sion /pɚˈvɜrʒən, -ʃən/   n. 

1. [countable] the act of perverting.
2. [uncountable] the state of being perverted.
3. a perverted form of something:
   [countable] a perversion of justice.
4. Psychiatry [countable] any of various abnormal sexual practices.

See -vert-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

per•ver•sion  (pər vûr′zhən, -shən), n. 

1. the act of perverting.
2. the state of being perverted.
3. a perverted form of something.
4. Psychiatry 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.

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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

perversion / 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