adjective
pert
purt
adjective
1
Cheeky or impudent in a lively, playful way, especially of a child or younger person.
"The waitress gave a pert reply that made the whole table laugh."
2
Attractively perky or shapely.
"The dress was cut to show off her pert figure."
How to Use Pert
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSassy and self-assured, sometimes bordering on cheeky; also used to describe something neatly perky in shape.
When to use it
Fairly dated/literary in the "cheeky" sense, more common today describing physical shape.
Word Forms
perter comparative, perted past tense, perts plural, perts singular, pertest superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “pert”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The waitress gave a _____ reply that made the whole table laugh.
Etymology
From Middle English pert, a shortened form of apert ("open, evident"), ultimately from Latin apertus.