critic

1 of 2

noun (1)

crit·​ic ˈkri-tik 

1

a

: one who engages often professionally in the analysis, evaluation, or appreciation of works of art or artistic performances

a literary critic

a film critic

a theater critic

b

: one who expresses a reasoned opinion on any matter especially involving a judgment of its value, truth, righteousness, beauty, or technique

Critics of the new law say that it will not reduce crime.

2

: one given to harsh or captious judgment

a fierce critic of immigration policies

critic

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

archaic : criticism

2

archaic : critique

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• carper
• castigator
• caviler
• caviller
• censurer
• criticizer
• disparager
• faultfinder
• hypercritic
• knocker
• niggler
• nitpicker

Examples of critic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Edward Segarra Everybody’s a critic, but Sydney Sweeney is biting back. —USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

The limited series starring Jesse Eisenberg, Claire Danes, Lizzy Caplan and Adam Brody is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an 87 percent score among critics and an 80 percent rating with viewers. —Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024

The show has also proven to be popular with critics, holding a 94% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024

More broadly speaking, all successful artists rely on a network of critics, journals and newspapers, a discerning audience, bookshops and concert halls and galleries — which is generations in the making, presupposing certain values, certain economic and political realities. —Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024

And the proposal is notably deferential to the critics of Ukraine assistance. —The Editors, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert often reminds salary critics that the league is only 28 years old, compared to the 78-year-old NBA and 104-year-old NFL. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024

Mejia, a fierce critic of LAPD spending, has repeatedly taken aim at the package of police raises negotiated by the mayor, which is supposed to help with recruitment but also has increased the size of the budget shortfall. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024

Wilson is a former political journalist, not a critic, who lives on neighboring Islay, famous for its whiskeys. —Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

borrowed from Latin criticus, borrowed from Greek kritikós, derivative of kritikós, adjective, "discerning, capable of judging," from kritós "separated, picked out" (verbal adjective of krī́nein "to separate, choose, decide, judge") + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at certain entry 1

Noun (2)

borrowed from French critique critique entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Noun (2)

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing critic

• textual critic

Kids Definition

critic

noun

crit·​ic

ˈkrit-ik

1

: a person who makes or gives a judgment of the value, worth, beauty, or excellence of something

2

: faultfinder