What does exactingness mean?
Exactingness is a noun denoting the quality of being exacting — that is, of making stringent demands for precision, effort, or high standards. It may describe a person, such as a teacher or editor whose expectations are difficult to satisfy, or a thing, such as a discipline, craft, or environment that permits no shortcuts. The word sits in formal register and appears most often in writing about education, the arts, professional work, and physical pursuits where rigor is essential. Its connotation is largely favorable when it signals excellence and conscientiousness, though it can shade into criticism when the demands seem excessive or ungenerous. Derived from 'exacting', which traces back through Latin 'exigere' (to drive out, to demand), the word belongs to a family including 'exact', 'exigent', and 'exigency'. Writers reach for it when they want a single abstract term for the demandingness that 'strict' or 'severe' only partly convey.
nounThe quality of being exacting; the making of severe or rigorous demands on others or oneself, especially in matters of accuracy, effort, or standards.
- The quality of making severe or rigorous demands, whether of oneself or of others.
- The character of a task, standard, or environment that requires great care, precision, or effort.
"The exactingness of the conservatoire's audition process deterred all but the most dedicated applicants."
"Her exactingness as an editor was feared at first but ultimately earned the writers' gratitude."
"The exactingness of alpine climbing leaves no room for careless preparation."
Exactingness comes from the Latin 'exigere' — literally 'to drive out' — the same root that gave us 'examine', so to demand exactness is etymologically to weigh something thoroughly.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exactingness
Exactingness is formed from the adjective 'exacting' plus the noun-forming suffix '-ness'. 'Exacting' derives from the verb 'exact', which entered English in the early modern period from Latin 'exigere', meaning 'to drive out, demand, or measure thoroughly' — a compound of 'ex-' (out) and 'agere' (to drive or do). The same Latin root produced 'exigent', 'exigency', and 'exiguous', and, through Vulgar Latin, 'examinare', ancestor of 'examine'. The noun 'exactingness' arose naturally once 'exacting' was established as an adjective meaning severely demanding.
Related word forms
How exactingness is actually used
A formal, somewhat literary word, more common in written than conversational English. It carries a neutral-to-positive connotation when describing high standards, though it can imply harshness or unreasonable demands depending on context. It is less frequent than its adjective form 'exacting'.
Easily confused with exactingness
Exactness means precision or accuracy itself, while exactingness refers to the demanding quality of someone or something that insists on such precision.