Definition and pronunciation
puritan — noun & adjective: (1) a member or follower of a strict English Protestant movement of the 16th–17th centuries (capitalized Puritan); (2) a person who is very strict or stern about morals and pleasure (lowercase).
Pronunciation: /ˈpjʊrɪtən/.
Easy explanation
A puritan is someone who believes rules and self-control matter more than pleasure. Historically it names a religious group. In everyday speech, it describes a person who is very strict about behavior, fun, or sex.
Part of speech and grammar
- Noun: a puritan; two puritans. Capitalize (Puritan) for the historical group.
- Adjective: puritan attitudes; puritan standards.
- Derivatives: puritanical (adj., more common for the strict attitude), Puritanism (noun).
Register and tone
Neutral in history; judgmental in casual talk. Calling someone puritan or puritanical often criticizes them as too strict or joyless.
Connection to sexuality
Indirect but common. Puritan/puritanical often describes very strict sexual rules or disapproval of open discussion of sex. The word itself doesn’t name any act; it labels an attitude toward pleasure and modesty.
Common collocations
puritan streak; puritan morals; puritan standards; puritan code; puritan restraint; puritan work ethic (by extension); puritanical rules; puritan town/history; neo-Puritan vibe
Idioms and set phrases
- no puritan — “not overly strict about pleasure/sex”: I’m no puritan, but the ad felt tacky.
- puritanical streak — habitual sternness about pleasure.
- blue laws — laws (often Sunday restrictions) linked to a Puritan heritage in some regions.
Prepositions and nuance
- puritan about money/sex/entertainment — strict in that area.
- puritan in tastes/habits — restrained style: puritan in dress.
- Puritan of New England — historical label.
The preposition narrows the domain; the core idea is strictness and restraint.
Word comparisons
- puritan vs puritanical — puritanical is the go-to adjective for strict, moralizing attitudes.
- puritan vs prude/priggish — prude focuses on sexual modesty; priggish adds self-righteousness.
- puritan vs ascetic — ascetic stresses self-denial for spiritual or personal discipline, not necessarily moralizing others.
- puritan vs conservative — conservative is political/cultural; puritan is a moral style about pleasure.
- puritan vs libertine/hedonist — near-opposites: libertine/hedonist embrace pleasure; puritan restrains it.
Real-life examples
- The school’s dress policy was criticized as puritanical by students.
- The play portrays a Puritan family in colonial Massachusetts.
- He’s a puritan about spending—no luxuries, no impulse buys.
- Commentators warned against puritan attitudes that stigmatize sex education.
Sample sentences
- She has a puritan streak about nightlife but loves long hikes and quiet dinners.
- The museum explores how Puritan ideals shaped early New England.
- I’m no puritan; I just want ads that are respectful.
- His puritanical rules about dating made conversation difficult.
Synonyms
strict moralist, ascetic, prude, priggish person, killjoy, straight-laced person, blue-nosed person, austere person
Antonyms
libertine, hedonist, sybarite, bon vivant, free spirit, permissive person
Related terms
Puritan, Puritanism, puritanical, prudish, modesty, chastity, blue laws, moralism, asceticism, austerity, restraint, conservative culture, Victorian (contextual), sexual ethics
Notes and etiquette
Use Puritan (cap) for the historical movement; use puritan/puritanical (lowercase) for the attitude. Because the label can shame people for their values, prefer precise descriptions of the actual policy or behavior when you need neutral language.
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