martinet

noun mar·ti·net \ ˌmär-tə-ˈnet \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of martinet

1 : a strict disciplinarian

The prison's warden was a cruel martinet.

2 : a person who stresses a rigid adherence to the details of forms and methods

a martinet in conducting meetings of the society, he never tolerated any sign of levity or indecorum
—D. J. Boorstin

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Examples of martinet in a Sentence

The prison's warden was a cruel martinet.

Recent Examples of martinet from the Web

Tuomanen also plays Cassius, a martinet, envious, too ready to take offense, a source of comic energy.

— john timpane, Philly.com, "'Julius Caesar' at Quintessence: Tense, tart, appalling, engrossing," 25 Mar. 2018
From martinets like the Karolyis, Bela and Marta, to this creep Nassar, the beauty of the sport was truly skin deep.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc: The demise of the Pirates is bad for Major League Baseball," 16 Jan. 2018
Even that old windbag Polonius, played by Robert Joy, is less a bombastic grandstander than a dry-as-dust martinet.

— ben brantley, New York Times, "Review: Michael Urie Puts the Madcap in Hamlet’s Madness," 23 Jan. 2018
Instead, Betts emphasizes Cathleen’s lesbian stirrings and the panic of Mother Superior (Melissa Leo), an always-angry martinet.

— armond white, National Review, "Radicalizing Youth via the Movies," 30 Oct. 2017
Paul was not a tyrannical father pushing his son like a martinet.

— marcos bretón, sacbee, "The hottest player in Major League Baseball is from Sacramento. But how he got there is an even better story," 25 Sep. 2017
The martinet head coach earned back-to-back last-place divisional finishes and the undying enmity of his players.

— jack dickey, SI.com, "The Seven NFL Preseason Hype Stories We See Season After Season After Season...," 23 Aug. 2017
Leith’s commander is Major Brand (Curt Jurgens), a by-the-book martinet married to Jane (Ruth Roman), who is Leith’s former lover and still his beloved.

— richard brody, The New Yorker, "Bitter Victory," 31 Mar. 2017
The Trump administration doesn’t believe in climate change, so some White House martinet ordered the Badlands account to go silent.

— alexander nazaryan, Newsweek, "75 Years Later, Internment of Japanese Remains Stain on American History," 15 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'martinet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

When France's King Louis XIV appointed Lieutenant Colonel Jean Martinet to be inspector general of the infantry in the late 17th century, he made a wise choice. As a drillmaster, Martinet trained his troops to advance into battle in precise linear formations and to fire in volleys only upon command, thus making the most effective use of inaccurate muskets - and making the French army one of the best on the continent. He also gave English a new word. Martinet has been used synonymously with "strict disciplinarian" since the 1730s.

Origin and Etymology of martinet

Jean Martinet, 17th century French army officer

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1737

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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MARTINET Defined for English Language Learners

martinet

noun

Definition of martinet for English Language Learners

: a person who is very strict and demands obedience from others

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martinet

Definition of martinet

martinet was our Word of the Day on 01/27/2010. Hear the podcast!

Examples of martinet in a Sentence

Recent Examples of martinet from the Web

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Origin and Etymology of martinet

MARTINET Defined for English Language Learners

martinet

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martinet

Definition of martinet

martinet was our Word of the Day on 01/27/2010. Hear the podcast!

Examples of martinet in a Sentence

Recent Examples of martinet from the Web

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Origin and Etymology of martinet

MARTINET Defined for English Language Learners

martinet

Definition of martinet for English Language Learners

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