critic

1 of 2

noun (1)

crit·​ic ˈkri-tik How to pronounce critic (audio)
1
a
: one who engages often professionally in the analysis, evaluation, or appreciation of works of art or artistic performances
a literary critic
a film critic
a theater critic
b
: one who expresses a reasoned opinion on any matter especially involving a judgment of its value, truth, righteousness, beauty, or technique
Critics of the new law say that it will not reduce crime.
2
: one given to harsh or captious judgment
a fierce critic of immigration policies

critic

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
archaic : criticism
2
archaic : critique

Examples of critic in a Sentence

Noun (1) the president's hard-core critics are going to attack him no matter what he does the restaurant critic said that the fries at that fast-food outlet were the worst she'd ever eaten
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
That’s helping fund deforestation and large-scale dairy farms, the critics said. Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024 The president-elect is condemned by critics as a dangerous isolationist who emboldens strongmen and hailed by supporters as a forthright defender of American interests, and most observers at least agree that a second Trump era will be unpredictable. Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024 Last fall, she was censured for her rhetoric on the Israel-Hamas war, which critics condemned as anti-Semitic. Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024 Set in 2011 in Montreal’s indie music scene, the film follows Grace Pine (Ferreira), a 24-year-old music critic who moves to the Canadian city to write a book on Alanis Morissette’s classic Jagged Little Pill album. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for critic 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

borrowed from Latin criticus, borrowed from Greek kritikós, derivative of kritikós, adjective, "discerning, capable of judging," from kritós "separated, picked out" (verbal adjective of krī́nein "to separate, choose, decide, judge") + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at certain entry 1

Noun (2)

borrowed from French critique critique entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Noun (2)

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of critic was in 1587

Dictionary Entries Near critic

Cite this Entry

“Critic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critic. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

critic

noun
crit·​ic
ˈkrit-ik
1
: a person who makes or gives a judgment of the value, worth, beauty, or excellence of something
2

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