flawless

flawless — adjective

1. completely perfect, with no mistakes, marks, or signs of damage at all

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

completely perfect, with no mistakes, marks, or signs of damage at all

Example

Nora's dance performance was flawless — she did not miss a single step.

predicative use: 'was flawless'

The jeweler held up the flawless diamond for the customer to inspect.

attributive use: 'the flawless diamond'

Common collocations
  • flawless skin
  • flawless performance
  • flawless execution
  • flawless record
  • flawless service
  • flawless complexion
  • flawless technique
  • flawless victory
Synonyms
  • perfect

    The most common alternative; 'perfect' is broader and can mean 'ideal in all respects' rather than just 'without errors or damage'.

  • impeccable

    Slightly more formal than 'flawless'; often used for behavior, taste, or performance ('impeccable manners').

  • immaculate

    Emphasizes cleanliness and lack of stains or dirt; also used for spiritual purity ('an immaculate white shirt').

  • faultless

    Very close to 'flawless' but slightly less common; often describes technical precision ('a faultless argument').

Antonyms
  • flawed

    Direct opposite; having one or more defects, mistakes, or imperfections.

  • imperfect

    Broader than 'flawed'; covers anything that is not completely without fault.

  • blemished

    Specifically about visible marks or damage, especially on surfaces or skin.

Grammar Patterns

flawless + noun (attributive)

be / seem / look / remain + flawless (predicative)

Usage Note

Frequently appears with performance, appearance, and work-related nouns. Though technically an absolute adjective (something is either flawless or not), comparative forms such as 'more flawless' do occur in informal and evaluative language (e.g., 'the most flawless performance of the night').

Common Mistakes

His English is flawless and he makes many errors.
His English is flawless
he never makes errors.' — 'flawless' means no mistakes; do not pair it with a clause describing mistakes.
The floor was more flawless than the walls.
The floor was closer to flawless than the walls.
Some writers avoid grading 'flawless' since it already means 'without any flaws.'

Word family

  • flaw
    nounB2
  • flawed
    adjectiveB2
  • flawlessly
    adverbC1
  • flawlessness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that has no defects, but they differ in tone and typical use. 'Perfect' is the most common and general: it can describe anything from a test score to a weather day, but can sometimes sound exaggerated or subjective. 'Flawless' is more concrete — it literally means 'without a flaw' and is often used for visible or measurable things (skin, diamond, technique). 'Impeccable' carries a formal, almost moral overtone and is the preferred word for manners, taste, and reputation. 'Immaculate' emphasizes spotlessness and is strongly associated with cleanliness and appearance, though it can also carry religious connotations of purity. 'Faultless' is the rarest of the four and usually applies to logic, reasoning, or technical execution. For everyday use: a watch can be flawless or faultless; a meal can be perfect or impeccable; a white shirt can be immaculate.

perfect ↗impeccable ↗immaculatefaultless

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • absolutely flawless
  • virtually flawless
  • nearly flawless
  • technically flawless
  • almost flawless

Phrases

  • in flawless condition
  • with flawless precision
  • flawless from start to finish

Etymology

Old NorseMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed within English by combining the noun 'flaw' (meaning a crack, defect, or blemish, borrowed from Old Norse 'flaga' — a stone slab or a flaw in a gem) with the suffix '-less' (meaning 'without'). The word has been used since the early 17th century to describe physical objects without defects, and later expanded to performances, appearances, and abstract qualities.