perspective
/pəˈspek.tɪv/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
A way of thinking about or understanding something. It is the viewpoint from which you judge a person, idea, or situation.
- Try looking at it from another perspective.
- Her perspective changed after the meeting.
- They discussed the issue from a customer perspective.
- 2.
The way something looks from a certain place or distance. It can also mean the right sense of size, space, and distance in a picture.
- The mountains looked small from that perspective.
- The artist used perspective well.
- The building looks different from this perspective.
Adinary Nuance
Perspective is wider than opinion and less emotional than view. It often means the full frame you use to understand a situation. Writers choose it when they want to stress angle, context, or point of view, not just a simple belief.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- góc nhìn
- Spanish
- perspectiva
- Chinese
- 视角
- Japanese
- 視点
- Korean
- 관점
Etymology
Perspective comes from Latin perspectivus, meaning 'seen clearly' or 'looking through'. It entered English in the late 14th century through French, first for art and vision, then for thinking and opinion.
Common phrases
from a different perspectivegain perspectivekeep perspectivea fresh perspective
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between perspective and opinion?
- An opinion is what you think. A perspective is the wider way you see the whole situation.
- Is perspective formal or informal?
- It is neutral. People use it in everyday speech, business, and academic writing.
- Can I say 'from my perspective'?
- Yes. It means 'in my view' or 'the way I see it'.