Pedant: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ค
pedant
[ หpษd(ษ)nt ]
person
A pedant is someone who is too concerned with literal accuracy or formality, especially in language use.
Synonyms
nitpicker, perfectionist, stickler.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| pedant |
A pedant is someone who is overly concerned with minor details or rules, often to a fault in academic or intellectual contexts.
|
| perfectionist |
A perfectionist strives for flawlessness and sets very high standards for themselves and others. This term is generally positive but can imply stress or difficulty in completing tasks.
|
| nitpicker |
A nitpicker is someone who finds small or trivial faults, often in a critical or annoying way. This term often carries a negative connotation.
|
| stickler |
A stickler is someone who insists on a certain quality or type of behavior, often to ensure rules or standards are met. It can be neutral or slightly negative depending on the context.
|
Examples of usage
- His constant corrections of others' grammar earned him a reputation as a pedant.
- Don't be such a pedant about the wording, just get your point across.
education
In education, a pedant refers to a teacher who is overly focused on minor details and rules rather than the overall learning experience.
Synonyms
conservative, dogmatist, traditionalist.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| pedant |
Used to describe someone who is overly concerned with minor details or rules, often in an academic context. It can have a negative connotation, implying that the person is annoying or obsessively focused on trivial points.
|
| dogmatist |
Refers to someone who strongly asserts their opinions and beliefs, often without considering other viewpoints. This term usually has a negative connotation, suggesting inflexibility or authoritarianism.
|
| traditionalist |
Describes a person who adheres to traditional views or practices. This term is often used positively to describe someone who respects and follows established customs.
|
| conservative |
Applicable to someone who is inclined to preserve existing conditions, institutions, or practices, and tends to oppose changes. This term is often used in a political or social context.
|
Examples of usage
- The pedant spent more time critiquing the students' handwriting than actually teaching the material.
- Her reputation as a pedant made students dread her class.
Translations
Translations of the word "pedant" in other languages:
๐ต๐น pedante
๐ฎ๐ณ เคธเคคเคฐเฅเคเคคเคพเคตเคพเคฆเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช Pedant
๐ฎ๐ฉ pedant
๐บ๐ฆ ะฟะตะดะฐะฝั
๐ต๐ฑ pedant
๐ฏ๐ต ็ดฐใใใใจใซใใ ใใไบบ
๐ซ๐ท pรฉdant
๐ช๐ธ pedante
๐น๐ท titiz
๐ฐ๐ท ์ธ์ธํ ๊ฒ์ ์ ๊ฒฝ์ ์ฐ๋ ์ฌ๋
๐ธ๐ฆ ู ุฏูู
๐จ๐ฟ pedant
๐ธ๐ฐ pedant
๐จ๐ณ ่ฟ่ ไนไบบ
๐ธ๐ฎ pedant
๐ฎ๐ธ smรกmunasamur maรฐur
๐ฐ๐ฟ าฑัะฐา-ัาฏะนะตะบะบะต ะผำะฝ ะฑะตัะตััะฝ ะฐะดะฐะผ
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแแขแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ pedant
๐ฒ๐ฝ pedante
Etymology
The word 'pedant' originated in the 16th century and comes from the Italian 'pedante' which means 'teacher'. Over time, the meaning evolved to refer to someone who is overly concerned with minor details or formalities. The negative connotation associated with pedants often stems from their insistence on correctness at the expense of flexibility or creativity.