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

This year, blessedly free of injury, Muchová has belatedly been able to play the kind of tennis that makes purists purr. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Some soccer purists grumbled about the World Cup expanding this year from 32 to 48 teams. — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 29 June 2026

At the same time, centrists swung against a left that had indulged its purist tendencies. — Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 June 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for purist

• jurist
• purest
• surest
• tourist