puritan
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.”
How to use puritan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or, historically, a religious group) known for strict, disapproving views on pleasure and morality.
Word forms
more puritan comparative, puritans plural, Puritans plural, most puritan superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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
View more →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.