French word

pervertir

Pronunciation

IPA/pɛʁvɛʁtiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbdistort

Example

Ils pervertissent souvent les faits.

They often distort the facts.

Illustration for pervertir (distort)

More examples

La désinformation peut pervertir l'opinion publique.

Misinformation can distort public opinion.

Core concept

A true meaning, fact, or behavior turned away from its proper course and made false or corrupt.

Common phrases

  • pervertir les faits

    distort the facts

  • pervertir l'opinion publique

    distort public opinion

Similar words

déformer: To change a form or expression so its original meaning or appearance is obscured.
falsifier: To falsify evidence or documents by altering their content.
truquer: To rig equipment, data, or results to produce a preferred outcome.
corrompre: To corrupt a person's morals or sense of fairness, encouraging misconduct.

Definition in French

Détourner le sens, la vérité ou le comportement de sa direction normale, de façon à le rendre faux ou moralement corrompu.

Word origin

French pervertir comes from Latin pervertere, built from per- meaning thoroughly and vertere meaning to turn.

Usage tips

  • French pervertir covers distorted facts and corrupt conduct, while English pervert often has a sexual sense, so context matters.

Other meanings

  • corruptverb

Opposites

Related words

  • perversioncorruptionnoun
  • pervertidepravedadjective

Word lists with this word