Puritan

[ pyoo r-i-tn ]
/ ˈpyʊər ɪ tn /

noun

a member of a group of Protestants that arose in the 16th century within the Church of England, demanding the simplification of doctrine and worship, and greater strictness in religious discipline: during part of the 17th century the Puritans became a powerful political party.
(lowercase) a person who is strict in moral or religious matters, often excessively so.

adjective

of or relating to the Puritans.
(lowercase) of, relating to, or characteristic of a moral puritan; puritanical.

Origin of Puritan

1540–50; < Late Latin pūrit(ās) purity + -an

OTHER WORDS FROM Puritan

Example sentences from the Web for puritan

British Dictionary definitions for puritan (1 of 2)

puritan
/ (ˈpjʊərɪtən) /

noun

a person who adheres to strict moral or religious principles, esp one opposed to luxury and sensual enjoyment

adjective

characteristic of a puritan

Derived forms of puritan

puritanism, noun

Word Origin for puritan

C16: from Late Latin pūritās purity

British Dictionary definitions for puritan (2 of 2)

Puritan
/ (in the late 16th and 17th centuries ˈpjʊərɪtən) /

noun

any of the more extreme English Protestants, most of whom were Calvinists, who wished to purify the Church of England of most of its ceremony and other aspects that they deemed to be Catholic

adjective

of, characteristic of, or relating to the Puritans

Derived forms of Puritan

Puritanism, noun