puritan

noun pu·ri·tan \ ˈpyu̇r-ə-tən \

|Updated on: 10 May 2018

Definition of puritan

1 capitalized : a member of a 16th and 17th century Protestant group in England and New England opposing as unscriptural the ceremonial worship and the prelacy of the Church of England

2 : one who practices or preaches a more rigorous or professedly purer moral code than that which prevails

See puritan defined for English-language learners

See puritan defined for kids

Examples of puritan in a Sentence

She's a puritan about sex.
some of the town's puritans still maintain that sex education has no place in the schools

Recent Examples of puritan from the Web

To be sure, cannabis puritans can always cherry-pick scary stuff to stoke the fear that an ancient mind-altering substance that makes most users happy and hungry is the devil’s gift to a modern culture going to hell.

— logan jenkins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Progress: Marijuana poll elicits a shrug," 26 Apr. 2018
In the 17th century, the pies were rejected by British puritans as decadent, hedonistic and inherently Catholic.

— leo hornak, USA TODAY, "Mince pie: Britain's strange addiction to a Christmas treat, explained," 19 Dec. 2017
In that sense, this story is intended as neither prurient nor puritan.

— matt patches, Esquire, "James Franco and the Creator of The Wire Double-Team HBO's '70s Porn Drama," 6 Aug. 2015
Our mother and father were religious and strong and good puritans.

— chris jones, Esquire, "The House of Hugh Hefner," 28 Sep. 2017
The video, however, even though it was shot largely in a strip club with dancers in thongs, is almost puritan compared to ones being produced these days.

— john smallwood, Philly.com, "Sports Tonight: More proof that 'chicks dig the long ball'," 1 Sep. 2017
Atwood views the United States as having two foundations: one 18th-century Enlightenment and the other 17th-century puritan theology.

— jackie mansky, Smithsonian, "The U.S. Is Too Ornery for Totalitarianism, According to Margaret Atwood," 14 Apr. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of puritan

probably from Late Latin puritas purity

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1572

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

puritan Synonyms

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

puritan

adjective, often capitalized

Definition of puritan

: of or relating to puritans, the Puritans, or puritanism

Recent Examples of puritan from the Web

That law has gone long unenforced when the play begins, so the enigmatic Duke of Vienna (Scott Shepherd) decides to step aside and put the merciless puritan Angelo (Pete Simpson) in charge.

— ben brantley, New York Times, "Review: Shakespeare Meets Elevator Repair Service. Mayhem Ensues.," 10 Oct. 2017
Sales of spirits have been robust in recent years, even as consumption of wine and beer has fallen in many countries, but millennial shoppers sound increasingly puritan.

— The Economist, "The bosses of two famous French firms struggle to keep customers," 5 Oct. 2017
During that period, known as the Interregnum, Oliver Cromwell and others led a series of republican governments and promoted puritan moral standards.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "The Spy Who Became England’s First Successful Female Writer," 13 June 2017
During that period, known as the Interregnum, Oliver Cromwell and others led a series of republican governments and promoted puritan moral standards.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "The Spy Who Became England’s First Successful Female Writer," 13 June 2017
Fusco illustrates it by photographing birds and animals that hardly anyone ever sees — indeed, often creatures that few have ever heard of, like puritan tiger beetles and bristle-thighed curlews.

— david holahan, courant.com, "Photographer Paul Fusco: Slow And Steady To Capture The Wild Things," 21 May 2017
In touring the 287-acre campus of pathways, low-slung buildings and a commanding statue of Mr. Bogle, the sensibility is decidedly puritan.

— landon thomas jr., New York Times, "Vanguard Is Growing Faster Than Everybody Else Combined," 14 Apr. 2017

First Known Use of puritan

1581

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

PURITAN Defined for English Language Learners

puritan

noun

Definition of puritan for English Language Learners

Puritan : a member of a Protestant group in England and New England in the 16th and 17th centuries that opposed many customs of the Church of England
: a person who follows strict moral rules and who believes that pleasure is wrong