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

However, some purists believe that glass mirrors reflect light significantly better. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026

There is a new Jaguar logo, which some purists claim to hate, and a move upmarket as well, with the new flagship model likely to start at around $130,000, putting it beyond premium and into the realm of genuine luxury. —Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026

For every cultural good, identity has become fused with the object of interest, turning previously normal people leading unremarkable lives into Steak ’n Shake beef-tallow purists, Harry Potter moralists, or cast-iron-pan-cleaning radicals. —Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026

The rooms Eschewing the predictable Greek island white-on-white aesthetic, the look is more global nomad than Cycladic purist. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for purist

• jurist
• purest
• surest
• tourist