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

One of the style’s most contentious points among purists is its pearlescent finish, which has shifted to varying shades over the shoe’s many reissues. —Riley Jones, Footwear News, 9 July 2025

In a repeat of the conflict over H-1B visas, Trump-supporting businesses that rely on immigrant labor are clashing with MAGA purists who see deportation as a key strategy to get higher-paying jobs for Americans. —Irina Ivanova, Fortune, 22 June 2025

Their press run has been a salvo for rap purists who miss artists talking to actual journalists, not athletes, fellow artists, or streamers who claim to be such while flouting journalistic ethics. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2025

Baseball purists will love seeing the locker room, visiting the press box and peeking into the batting cage. —Demarco Williams, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for purist

• jurist
• purest
• surest
• tourist