purist

noun

pur·​ist ˈpyu̇r-ist How to pronounce purist (audio)
Synonyms of puristnext
: 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 How to pronounce purist (audio)
adjective
puristically
pyu̇-ˈri-sti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce purist (audio)
adverb

Examples of purist in a Sentence

a purist who only drinks European wines
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Among Steinbeck purists, giving Cathy a trauma backstory has proven a controversial move — one that just might turn the story’s main moral on its head. — Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026 Perhaps the New York bagel purists will convince Atlantans to embrace the soft interior and chewy exterior of an untoasted New York bagel. — Sheeka Sanahori, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026 Baseball purists might brace their eyes at the 2026 White Sox. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026 Historical revisionism over the decades since has popularized the Raptors nickname, but purists still consider this Air Jordan 7 colorway to be the Playoffs style. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for purist

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of purist was in 1699

Rhymes for purist

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Browse Nearby Words

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puristic
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Cite this Entry

“Purist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purist. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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