purist

noun

pur·ist | \ ˈpyu̇r-ist

Definition of purist

: 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

Other Words from purist Example Sentences Learn More about purist

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Other Words from purist

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

Can a colon cleanse detoxify your body to its purist form? — Mackenzie Wagoner, Vogue, "What’s the Best Way to Cleanse? A Guide to Detoxing in 2019," 1 Jan. 2019 And a straight-to-Netflix release would likely alienate Academy members who remain purists about only awarding films with a major theatrical rollout, not just those that receive a qualifying run in at least one Los Angeles theater. — Erich Schwartzel, WSJ, "Netflix Sees Oscar Gold in ‘Roma,’ but Hollywood Isn’t So Sure," 17 Nov. 2018 Among soccer purists, the prospect of playing on turf ranges from distasteful to dangerous. — Rachel Bachman, WSJ, "Major League Soccer Final Showcases Real Growth, Fake Grass," 7 Dec. 2018 Then there are the purists, like Amy Nelms, who counts one degree of pedagogic separation (the teacher Romana Kryzanowska) from Pilates himself. — Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, "These 5 Pilates Studios Have Fierce—and Incredibly Fit—Followings for a Reason," 21 Sep. 2018 Don’t worry, purists: the 270-horsepower turbo with the new eight-speed automatic churns out 295-pound-feet of torque, which is better than the 260 pound-feet of torque in the returning V-6 Pentastar engine. — Robert Duffer, chicagotribune.com, "2018 Jeep Wrangler rules the off-road world," 26 Apr. 2018 There is a purist at work here, one who draws the real thing before her, spurning photographic reference unless absolutely necessary; but there is also an impish magician. — Julie Zickefoose, WSJ, "‘Unnatural Selection’ Review: A Better Bird, Bit by Bit," 22 Nov. 2018 Chrissy Teigen came to Justin’s defense, but the lines were clearly drawn: burrito purists vs. Justin. — Kara Nesvig, Teen Vogue, "Justin Bieber's Doppelgänger Brad Sousa Is the One Who Ate That Burrito," 29 Oct. 2018 For purists who prefer a dedicated cream to counteract the season’s dry indoor heat and humidity, a richer, more hydrating sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, like La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios AOX serum, helps to counteract the harsh air. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "Here's Why You Need Sunscreen This Winter—and the Best Formulas to Buy Now," 15 Oct. 2018

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