purist

noun

pur·​ist ˈpyu̇r-ist How to pronounce purist (audio)
: a person who adheres strictly and often excessively to a tradition
especially : one preoccupied with the purity of a language and its protection from the use of foreign or altered forms
puristic adjective
puristically adverb

Examples of purist in a Sentence

a purist who only drinks European wines
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.
The principled purist gallery calls them inconsistent. Brian Domitrovic, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025 He’s been one of the league’s very best shutdown forwards and for the xG purists, his impact there is second to only Reinhart’s. Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025 Hybrids like the Corvette E-Ray should appeal to purists who’ve thus far resisted all-electric cars. IEEE Spectrum, 6 Jan. 2025 There is no glaze, perfect for purists like Martin, but it is cured and smoked over real hardwood. Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for purist 

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of purist was in 1699

Dictionary Entries Near purist

Cite this Entry

“Purist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purist. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on purist

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!