purist

noun

pur·​ist ˈpyu̇r-ist How to pronounce purist (audio)
: 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 adjective
puristically adverb

Examples of purist in a Sentence

a purist who only drinks European wines
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Baseball’s automatic runner has brought new fans but also stirred anxiety among purists. Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025 This is where our brand of technical analysis diverges from the purists who focus on price only. Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2025 The purists were busy splitting hella hairs over the distinction between rap and real hip-hop. Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025 Yet even when considering all the superyacht trappings, purists like Coles remain unconvinced. Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for purist

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of purist was in 1699

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Cite this Entry

“Purist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purist. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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