purist

noun

pur·​ist ˈpyu̇r-ist How to pronounce purist (audio)
: 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 adjective
puristically 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.
The Baltimore hardcore band has always pushed back against convention — Glow On mixed everything from samba and funk with alacrity, and genre purists have often balked at their flirtations with the mainstream. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2025 Key lime pie purists like my mom won’t hear of recipes with cream cheese or sour cream—an authentic Florida key lime pie should be silky and custard-like, not dense or cheesecake-y, and doesn’t require baking. Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 31 May 2025 For the pizza purists, there are plenty of other options, which also make full use of local ingredients like mushrooms and Columbia River salmon. Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2025 Aesthetes and purists will want a mid-to-late 1960s car, whose grill and bumpers are just right. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 23 May 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Purist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purist. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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