Pundit

From 'a wise person' to 'an opinionated person'

Following Donald Trump’s victory at the Nevada caucuses, it is increasingly clear that what many political observers had thought impossible is now possible or even likely: that he may become the GOP nominee.

He continues to surprise the pundits, and the word pundit itself was used frequently in analysis of the race:

“The pundits are all wondering what happens next.”

“I don’t think anybody—pundit, expert, political science Ph.D—can really figure this out.”

“Any pundit who tells you otherwise is lying.”

And even in headlines:

Why Political Pundits Are Becoming More Wrong

Trump Still Presents a Neverending Conundrum for Pundits

A pundit is "a person who gives opinions in an authoritative manner usually through the mass media" or, more simply, "a critic."

Despite its current association with cable news and social media, the word comes from the Hindi language. In India, it still means "a wise or learned man." The same root word gave us pandit, which can also be used as an honorary title or mean specifically “an expert in Sanskrit and in the science, laws, and religion of the Hindus” or “scholar.”