noun
puritan
PYOOR-rih-tuhn
Puritan (noun) means a person who is extremely strict about morals, especially concerning pleasure or sex. Example: “His coworkers joked that he was a bit of a puritan about drinking.”
noun
1
A person who is extremely strict about morals, especially concerning pleasure or sex.
"His coworkers joked that he was a bit of a puritan about drinking."
2
Historically, a member of a Protestant movement that sought simpler worship and stricter morality.
"The Puritans left England seeking religious freedom in the New World."
How to use puritan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or, historically, a religious group) known for strict, disapproving views on pleasure and morality.
Common pairings
puritan values
puritan work ethic
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Word forms
- Plural
- puritans
- Comparative
- more puritan
- Superlative
- most puritan
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His coworkers joked that he was a bit of a _____ about drinking.
Etymology
From the historical religious movement of the Puritans, who sought to "purify" the Church of England of Catholic practices.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for puritan
See all rhymes for puritan →Frequently asked questions
What does “puritan” mean?
The word “puritan” means a person who is extremely strict about morals, especially concerning pleasure or sex. In plain terms, someone (or, historically, a religious group) known for strict, disapproving views on pleasure and morality.
How do you pronounce “puritan”?
“Puritan” is pronounced PYOOR-rih-tuhn (/ˈpjʊ.ɹɪ.tən/ in IPA).
How do you use “puritan” in a sentence?
Here is “puritan” used in a sentence: “His coworkers joked that he was a bit of a puritan about drinking.”
What part of speech is “puritan”?
“Puritan” is a noun.
How many meanings does “puritan” have?
“Puritan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who is extremely strict about morals, especially concerning pleasure or sex.
