hairsplitting

[ hair-split-ing ]
/ ˈhɛərˌsplɪt ɪŋ /

noun

the making of unnecessarily fine distinctions.

adjective

characterized by such distinctions: the hairsplitting arguments of a political debate.

Origin of hairsplitting

First recorded in 1820–30; hair + splitting

SYNONYMS FOR hairsplitting

2 quibbling, niggling, nitpicking, captious.

OTHER WORDS FROM hairsplitting

hair·split·ter, noun

Example sentences from the Web for hairsplitting

British Dictionary definitions for hairsplitting

hairsplitting
/ (ˈhɛəˌsplɪtɪŋ) /

noun

the making of petty distinctions

adjective

occupied with or based on petty distinctions

Derived forms of hairsplitting

hairsplitter, noun