purist

noun

pur·​ist ˈpyu̇r-ist 

: 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

pyu̇-ˈri-stik 

adjective

puristically

pyu̇-ˈri-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of purist in a Sentence

a purist who only drinks European wines

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for purist

• jurist
• purest
• surest
• tourist