critic

1 of 2

noun (1)

crit·​ic ˈkri-tik 

1

a

: one who engages often professionally in the analysis, evaluation, or appreciation of works of art or artistic performances

a literary critic

a film critic

a theater critic

b

: one who expresses a reasoned opinion on any matter especially involving a judgment of its value, truth, righteousness, beauty, or technique

Critics of the new law say that it will not reduce crime.

2

: one given to harsh or captious judgment

a fierce critic of immigration policies

critic

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

archaic : criticism

2

archaic : critique

Synonyms of critic

Noun (1)

• criticizer

Examples of critic in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the president's hard-core critics are going to attack him no matter what he does

the restaurant critic said that the fries at that fast-food outlet were the worst she'd ever eaten

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some critics believed that the change may have been racially motivated to favor wealthy white pickleball players over the diverse crowd of basketball players. —Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026

Alongside them are Inès de la Fressange; creative directors Lolita Jacobs and Jean-Baptiste Talbourdet-Napoleone; visual artist Théo Mercier; former fashion and luxury consultant Jean-Jacques Picart; Ami Paris chief executive officer Nicolas Santi-Weil, and writer and critic Sophie Fontanel. —Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 3 June 2026

While councilmembers and the community showed broad support for the transient occupancy tax earlier this year, critics say the increase will squeeze hotel owners and make San Jose less competitive for the tech conferences and business travelers that drive the local economy. —Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 3 June 2026

Meanwhile, critics see them as a PR tool at the service of an authoritarian dictatorship dating back to the 1960s. —Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

borrowed from Latin criticus, borrowed from Greek kritikós, derivative of kritikós, adjective, "discerning, capable of judging," from kritós "separated, picked out" (verbal adjective of krī́nein "to separate, choose, decide, judge") + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at certain entry 1

Noun (2)

borrowed from French critique critique entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Noun (2)

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing critic

• textual critic

Rhymes for critic

• clitic
• lytic
• analytic
• anxiolytic
• astrocytic
• austenitic
• catalytic
• cytolytic
• dioritic
• diphtheritic
• dolomitic
• endophytic

Kids Definition

critic

noun

crit·​ic

ˈkrit-ik

1

: a person who makes or gives a judgment of the value, worth, beauty, or excellence of something

2

: faultfinder