puritan

noun
UK: /ˈpjʊərɪtən/
US: /ˈpjʊrɪtən/

  1. A member of a religious group in the 16th and 17th centuries who wanted to make the Church of England simpler and more pure.

    1. The puritan family prayed every day.
    2. The early puritan settlers of America had a significant impact on the culture.

  2. A person with very strict moral or religious beliefs, especially about pleasure and sex.

    1. My grandma is such a puritan she disapproves dancing.
    2. Some consider the artist a puritan because of the recurring themes in his artwork.

Synonyms

moralist victorian prude
puritan adjective

  1. Having very strict moral attitudes.

    1. He has a very puritan attitude toward alcohol.
    2. The city was known for its puritan values and strict social norms.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "puritan" in English means: A member of a religious group in the 16th and 17th centuries who wanted to make the Church of England simpler and more pure., A person with very strict moral or religious beliefs, especially about pleasure and sex..

The phonetic transcription of "puritan" is /ˈpjʊərɪtən/ in British English and /ˈpjʊrɪtən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "puritan": moralist, victorian, prude.

Example usage of "puritan": "The puritan family prayed every day.". More examples on the page.