critic
KRIHT-ihk
Critic (noun) means a person who evaluates and comments on the quality of something, such as art, film, or books. Example: “The theatre critic praised the actors but thought the play was far too long.”
noun
1
A person who evaluates and comments on the quality of something, such as art, film, or books.
"The theatre critic praised the actors but thought the play was far too long."
"Every critic in the newspaper's arts section reviewed the new exhibition."
"The film critic gave the movie four stars."
2
A person who often finds fault with someone or something.
"My neighbour is a constant critic of everything the council does."
"She is her own harshest critic and never feels satisfied with her work."
"He's a harsh critic of government policy."
How to use critic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone whose job or habit is judging the quality or faults of something.
Common pairings
a harsh critic
a film critic
critics say
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- critics
- Past tense
- criticked
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The theatre _____ praised the actors but thought the play was far too long.
Etymology
From Latin criticus, from Greek kritikos, "able to judge or discern," from krinein, "to judge."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for critic
See all rhymes for critic →Frequently asked questions
What does “critic” mean?
The word “critic” means a person who evaluates and comments on the quality of something, such as art, film, or books. In plain terms, someone whose job or habit is judging the quality or faults of something.
How do you pronounce “critic”?
“Critic” is pronounced KRIHT-ihk (/ˈkɹɪt.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “critic” in a sentence?
Here is “critic” used in a sentence: “The film critic gave the movie four stars.”
What part of speech is “critic”?
“Critic” is a noun.
Where does the word “critic” come from?
The word “critic” comes from Latin. From Latin criticus, from Greek kritikos, "able to judge or discern," from krinein, "to judge.".
Is “critic” a common word?
“Critic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “critic” have?
“Critic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who evaluates and comments on the quality of something, such as art, film, or books.
What is the difference between a critic and a reviewer?
A reviewer gives an opinion on a particular work, such as a single film or book, often to guide the public. A critic tends to analyse more deeply and with expertise, placing a work in a wider context, though in everyday use the terms overlap.
What is the difference between a critic and a critique?
A critic is a person who evaluates or finds fault with something. A critique is the evaluation itself, the detailed assessment that the critic produces, so one is the person and the other is the piece of analysis.
What is the difference between a critic and a cynic?
A critic judges the quality of something or points out its faults, which can be constructive. A cynic generally distrusts people's motives and expects the worst of them, so a critic evaluates work while a cynic doubts sincerity.
What are common collocations with critic?
Typical phrases include 'film critic', 'literary critic', 'art critic', and 'harsh critic'. Someone who repeatedly finds fault may be called a 'vocal critic' or one of a person's 'fiercest critics'.
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