perspective
- A particular way of thinking about or viewing something, shaped by one's experience, position, or beliefs.
- In art, the technique of representing three-dimensional objects on a flat surface so that they appear to have depth and distance.
In a sentence
- Traveling abroad gave her a fresh perspective on the political debates she had taken for granted at home.
- Renaissance painters mastered perspective to create the illusion of depth on flat canvas.
Usage note. In figurative use, 'perspective' collocates naturally with 'gain,' 'keep,' 'offer,' and 'broaden'; saying someone 'has perspective' implies balanced, broad-minded thinking.
Where it comes from
English perspective · entered English late 14th c.
From Medieval Latin 'perspectiva' (ars), meaning 'the science of optics,' derived from 'perspicere' (to look through), combining 'per' (through) and 'specere' (to look). It entered English in the late 14th century initially in the optical and artistic sense, later broadening to mean a mental point of view by the 17th century.