Pervert

Pronunciation

• noun
• UK IPA: /ˈpəːvəːt/
• (US): IPA: /ˈpəɹvəɹt/
• verb
• UK IPA: /pəˈvəːt/
• (US): IPA: /pɚˈvɝt/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)t

Origin

From Old French pervertir, itself from the Latin pervertō.

Full definition of pervert

Noun

1. (dated) One who has been perverted; one who has turned to error; one who has turned to a twisted sense of values or morals.
2. A person whose sexual habits are not considered acceptable.Those perverts were trying to spy on us while we changed clothes!

Usage notes

In contemporary usage, pervert is usually understood to refer to a sexually perverted person. Traditionally the word was mainly associated with persons of false religious beliefs.

Synonyms

• (sexually perverted person) deviant, perv slang

Antonyms

• convert religious

Verb

1. (transitive) To turn another way; to divert.
• ShakespeareLet's follow him, and pervert the present wrath.
2. (transitive) To turn from truth, rectitude, or propriety; to divert from a right use, end, or way; to lead astray; to corrupt.
• MiltonHe, in the serpent, had perverted Eve.
• 2004, April 15, , Morning swoop in hunt for Jodi's killer, A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "We can confirm that a 15-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Jodi Jones. A 45-year-old has also been arrested in connection with allegations of attempting to pervert the course of justice. A report on this has been sent to the procurator fiscal."
3. To misapply; to misinterpret designedly.pervert one's words
4. (intransitive) To become perverted; to take the wrong course.

Synonyms

• (turn another way) divert, steer, veer
• (turn from truth; lead astray) corrupt, lead astray
• (misapply, misinterpret designedly) misapply, misuse
• (take the wrong course)

Related terms

• perverse
• perversion