purist

1 of 2

noun

pur·​ist ˈpyu̇r-ist How to pronounce purist (audio)
Synonyms of puristnext
: 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

puristic

2 of 2

adjective

pu·​ris·​tic pyu̇ˈristik How to pronounce puristic (audio)
pyəˈr-
pyüˈr-
variants or less commonly puristical
-tə̇kəl
-tēk-
: of, relating to, or characteristic of purists or purism
a puristic outlook
: marked by purism
a puristic style
puristically
-tə̇k(ə)lē How to pronounce puristic (audio)
-tēk-
-li
adverb

Examples of purist in a Sentence

Noun 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.
Noun
The purists were always going to take issue with a Prancing Horse that had an electric powertrain instead of snarling internal combustion engine, but its unorthodox design, courtesy of Jony Ivy’s LoveFrom studio, has received just as much criticism. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 26 June 2026 There was a viewpoint among purists that combinatorics was sort of a bag of tricks. Quanta Magazine, 25 June 2026 Yes, purists love pitching duels. Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026 For those who’d rather see the Air Force 1 Low through more of a purist’s lens, the shoe is coming back this year in an ’01 build that’s more true to the original proportions than the ’07 build that’s been the standard. Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for purist

Word History

Etymology

and Adjective

First Known Use

Noun

1699, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of purist was in 1699

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Cite this Entry

“Purist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purist. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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