If someone describes a young woman as pert, they mean that they like her because she is lively and not afraid to say what she thinks. This use could cause offence.
...a pert assistant manager.
...pert replies by servant girls.
2. adjective
If you say that someone has, for example, a pert bottom or nose, you mean that it is quite small and neat, and you think it is attractive.
[approval]
...the tiny drops of rain gleaming on her wide forehead and her pert nose.
More Synonyms of pert
pert in British English
(pɜːt)
adjective
1.
saucy, impudent, or forward
2.
jaunty
a pert little hat
3. obsolete
clever or brisk
Derived forms
pertly (ˈpertly)
adverb
pertness (ˈpertness)
noun
Word origin
C13: variant of earlier apert, from Latin apertus open, from aperīre to open; influenced by Old French aspert, from Latin expertusexpert
PERT in British English
(pɜːt)
noun acronym for
programme evaluation and review technique
PERT in American English
(pɜrt)
US
a system of planning, scheduling, controlling, and reviewing a series of interdependent events in order to follow a proper sequence and complete a project as quickly and inexpensively as possible
Word origin
< P(rogram) E(valuation and) R(eview) T(echnique)
pert in American English1
(pɜrt)
adjective
1.
bold or impudent in speech or behavior; saucy; forward
2.
chic and jaunty
3. Dialectal
in good spirits or health; lively; brisk
4. Obsolete
clever
Derived forms
pertly (ˈpertly)
adverb
pertness (ˈpertness)
noun
Word origin
ME, aphetic for apert < OFr < L apertus, open: see aperture
pert in American English2
pertaining
Examples of 'pert' in a sentence
pert
Here is how to hone and tone it into a perfectly pert shape.
The Sun (2013)
Her face is young and pert.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We also had some chips, a fennel gratin and a pert little salad of dressed leaves and radishes.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They are small and pert.
The Sun (2013)
1 (adjective)
Definition
saucy or impudent
pert questions
Synonyms
impudent
Some were well behaved, while others were impudent.
forward
She is very forward and confident.
smart
bold
Some young people may seem bold and confident, but inside they are very fragile.
fresh (informal)
Don't get fresh with me.
flip (informal)
cheeky
They sat making cheeky comments about passers-by.
brash
On stage she seems hard, brash and uncompromising.
saucy
a saucy joke
pushy (informal)
a confident and pushy individual
sassy (US, informal)
flippant
She dismissed it as a flippant comment.
presumptuous
It would be presumptuous of me to give an opinion.
impertinent
I don't like strangers who ask impertinent questions.
insolent
They can be insolent and difficult to get along with.
lippy (US, Canadian, slang)
2 (adjective)
Definition
attractive in a neat way
a black silk coat with a pert Peter Pan collar
Synonyms
neat
She always looked neat and well groomed.
gay
I am in good health, gay and cheerful.
spirited
He wanted merely to provoke a spirited debate.
smart
We set off at a smart pace.
daring
dashing (old-fashioned)
He looked very dashing in a designer jacket of soft black leather.
lively
She had a sweet, lively personality.
brisk
The horse broke into a brisk trot.
nimble
To keep your mind nimble, you must use it.
jaunty
The novel is altogether jauntier than these quotations imply.
perky
Graham was looking as perky as ever.
dapper
a small, dapper man in his early fifties
sprightly
the sprightly 85-year-old president
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bold
Definition
immodest or impudent
Some young people may seem bold and confident, but inside they are very fragile.
Synonyms
impudent,
forward,
fresh (informal),
confident,
rude,
cheeky,
brash,
feisty (informal),
saucy,
pushy (informal),
brazen,
in-your-face (slang),
shameless,
sassy (informal),
unabashed,
pert,
insolent,
barefaced,
spirited,
forceful
in the sense of brash
Definition
impudent or bold
On stage she seems hard, brash and uncompromising.
Synonyms
bold,
forward,
rude,
arrogant,
cocky,
pushy (informal),
brazen,
presumptuous,
impertinent,
insolent,
impudent,
bumptious,
cocksure,
overconfident,
hubristic,
full of yourself
in the sense of brisk
Definition
lively and quick
The horse broke into a brisk trot.
Synonyms
quick,
lively,
energetic,
active,
vigorous,
animated,
bustling,
speedy,
nimble,
agile,
sprightly,
vivacious,
spry
Nearby words of
pert
persuade
persuasion
persuasive
pert
pertain to
pertinacious
pertinent
Synonyms of 'pert'
pert
Explore 'pert' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cheeky
Definition
disrespectful
They sat making cheeky comments about passers-by.
Synonyms
impudent,
rude,
forward,
fresh (informal),
insulting,
saucy,
audacious,
sassy (informal),
pert,
disrespectful,
impertinent,
insolent,
lippy (slang)
in the sense of dapper
Definition
(of a man) neat in appearance and slight in build
a small, dapper man in his early fifties
Synonyms
neat,
nice,
smart,
trim,
stylish,
spruce,
dainty,
natty (informal),
well-groomed,
well turned out,
trig (archaic, dialect),
soigné
in the sense of dashing
Definition
stylish and attractive
He looked very dashing in a designer jacket of soft black leather.
Synonyms
stylish,
smart,
elegant,
dazzling,
flamboyant,
sporty,
swish (informal, British),
urbane,
jaunty,
dapper,
showy
in the sense of flippant
Definition
treating serious matters with inappropriate light-heartedness or lack of respect
She dismissed it as a flippant comment.
Synonyms
frivolous,
rude,
cheeky,
irreverent,
flip (informal),
superficial,
saucy,
glib,
pert,
disrespectful,
offhand,
impertinent,
impudent
in the sense of forward
Definition
overfamiliar or disrespectful
She is very forward and confident.
Synonyms
presumptuous,
confident,
familiar,
bold,
fresh (informal),
assuming,
presuming,
cheeky,
brash,
pushy (informal),
brazen,
shameless,
sassy (informal),
pert,
impertinent,
impudent,
bare-faced,
overweening,
immodest,
brass-necked (British, informal),
overfamiliar,
brazen-faced,
overassertive,
fwd
in the sense of fresh
Definition
overfamiliar or disrespectful
Don't get fresh with me.
Synonyms
cheeky (informal),
bold,
brazen,
impertinent,
forward,
familiar,
flip (informal),
saucy,
audacious,
sassy (informal),
pert,
disrespectful,
presumptuous,
insolent,
impudent,
smart-alecky (informal)
in the sense of gay
Definition
carefree and merry
I am in good health, gay and cheerful.
Synonyms
cheerful,
happy,
bright,
glad,
lively,
sparkling,
sunny,
jolly,
animated,
merry,
upbeat (informal),
buoyant,
cheery,
joyous,
joyful,
carefree,
jaunty,
chirpy (informal),
vivacious,
jovial,
gleeful,
debonair,
blithe,
insouciant,
full of beans (informal),
light-hearted
in the sense of impertinent
Definition
disrespectful or rude
I don't like strangers who ask impertinent questions.
Synonyms
rude,
forward,
cheeky (informal),
saucy (informal),
fresh (informal),
bold,
flip (informal),
brazen,
sassy (informal),
pert,
disrespectful,
presumptuous,
insolent,
impolite,
impudent,
lippy (slang),
discourteous,
uncivil,
unmannerly
in the sense of insolent
Definition
rude and disrespectful
They can be insolent and difficult to get along with.
Synonyms
rude,
cheeky,
impertinent,
fresh (informal),
bold,
insulting,
abusive,
saucy,
contemptuous,
pert,
impudent,
uncivil,
insubordinate,
brazen-faced
in the sense of jaunty
Definition
cheerful and energetic
The novel is altogether jauntier than these quotations imply.
Synonyms
sprightly,
buoyant,
carefree,
high-spirited,
gay (old-fashioned),
lively,
airy,
breezy,
perky,
sparky,
self-confident
Additional synonyms
in the sense of lively
Definition
vivacious or animated
She had a sweet, lively personality.
Synonyms
animated,
spirited,
quick,
keen,
active,
alert,
dynamic,
sparkling,
vigorous,
cheerful,
energetic,
outgoing,
merry,
upbeat (informal),
brisk,
bubbly,
nimble,
agile,
perky,
chirpy (informal),
sparky,
sprightly,
vivacious,
frisky,
gay (old-fashioned),
alive and kicking,
spry,
chipper (informal),
blithe,
full of beans (informal),
frolicsome,
full of pep (informal),
blithesome,
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
in the sense of nimble
Definition
mentally alert or acute
To keep your mind nimble, you must use it.
Synonyms
alert,
ready,
bright,
sharp,
keen,
active,
smart,
quick-witted,
quick,
prompt,
swift,
brisk,
pdq (slang)
in the sense of perky
Definition
confident or spirited
Graham was looking as perky as ever.
Synonyms
lively,
spirited,
bright,
sunny,
cheerful,
animated,
upbeat (informal),
buoyant,
bubbly,
cheery,
bouncy,
genial,
jaunty,
chirpy (informal),
sprightly,
vivacious,
in fine fettle,
full of beans (informal),
gay (old-fashioned),
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (informal)
in the sense of presumptuous
Definition
bold and insolent
It would be presumptuous of me to give an opinion.
Synonyms
pushy (informal),
forward,
bold,
arrogant,
presuming,
rash,
audacious,
conceited,
foolhardy,
insolent,
overweening,
overconfident,
overfamiliar,
bigheaded (informal),
uppish (British, informal),
too big for your boots
in the sense of pushy
Definition
offensively assertive or ambitious
a confident and pushy individual
Synonyms
forceful,
aggressive,
assertive,
brash,
loud,
offensive,
ambitious,
bold,
obnoxious,
presumptuous,
obtrusive,
officious,
bumptious,
self-assertive
in the sense of saucy
Definition
cheeky or slightly rude in an amusing and light-hearted way