Definition

1. Noun:
   • The action of distorting or corrupting something from its original or intended course, meaning, or state: This refers to the process of twisting something to a wrong use or interpretation.
   • A sexual practice or interest considered abnormal or deviant from societal norms: This refers to specific behaviors categorized as deviant.
   • (Archaic/Rare) A change to an opposite direction or state; a turning aside: This is a more technical or historical usage, such as describing a physical curve or reversal.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Distortion/Corruption):
  • The lawyer argued that the new law was a perversion of the original constitutional intent.
  • Spreading such rumors is a perversion of the truth.
• Noun (Sexual Deviance):
  • The old text listed various acts it considered sexual perversions.
  • In some legal codes, certain perversions were criminalized.
• Noun (Physical Reversal):
  • The botanist noted the perversion of the vine's growth pattern.

Advanced Usage

• "A perversion of justice": A common phrase meaning a severe distortion or corruption of legal principles and fairness.
  • The blatant bias of the judge was seen as a perversion of justice.
• Conceptual Use: Can be applied abstractly to ideas, systems, or functions.
  • The dictator's propaganda was a complete perversion of the nation's history.

Variants and Related Words

• Perverse (adj): Willfully determined to go against what is expected or reasonable; showing a deliberate desire to behave in an unacceptable way.
  • He took a perverse delight in annoying his colleagues.
• Perversity (n): The quality or state of being perverse.
  • The sheer perversity of his actions baffled everyone.
• Pervert (v): To distort or corrupt the original course, meaning, or state of something.
  • He attempted to pervert the course of the investigation.

Synonyms

• Distortion: The action of giving a misleading account or impression.
• Corruption: Dishonest or fraudulent conduct; the process by which something is changed from its original use.
• Deviation: The action of departing from an established course or accepted standard.
• Aberration: A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected.

Antonyms

• Purification: The process of making something spiritually or morally pure.
• Correction: The action or process of correcting something.
• Normality: The condition of being normal; the state of being usual, typical, or expected.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To pervert the course of justice: A legal phrase meaning to obstruct or interfere with the fair administration of justice.
  • Witness tampering is a serious crime intended to pervert the course of justice.

Noun

1. the action of perverting something (turning it to a wrong use)
   • it was a perversion of justice
2. an aberrant sexual practice;
3. a curve that reverses the direction of something
   • the tendrils of the plant exhibited perversion
   • perversion also shows up in kinky telephone cords