pernickety

adjective

per·​nick·​e·​ty pər-ˈni-kə-tē How to pronounce pernickety (audio)
chiefly British

Examples of pernickety in a Sentence

an Oxford don who's definitely a pernickety old chap
Recent Examples on the Web Perhaps this pernickety attention to detail is just the next logical step after years of falsification? Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pernickety.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1808, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pernickety was circa 1808

Dictionary Entries Near pernickety

Cite this Entry

“Pernickety.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pernickety. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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