What does puritan mean?
A puritan is someone who enforces a strict standard of morality or religious conduct, especially by rejecting pleasure, entertainment, or anything considered improper. In contemporary use, the word is generally disparaging: calling someone a puritan suggests not merely devotion but self-righteousness, austerity, and excessive concern with rules. Its historical meaning is more specific. Capitalized, it refers especially to members of the English Protestant reform movement of the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to reform the Church of England and opposed what they regarded as Catholic remnants and clerical corruption. The adjective puritan describes strict, austere, or censorious attitudes, as in “puritanical values.” Although originally a neutral religious designation, the modern lowercase word carries a strong negative connotation and is commonly used when criticizing moral rigidity rather than creditable seriousness.
A person who is excessively strict about morality, religion, or personal conduct, especially one who condemns pleasure or unconventional behavior.
"Despite his reputation as a puritan, he occasionally enjoyed a good meal."
A member of the English Protestant reform movement of the 16th and 17th centuries that sought to purge the Church of England of practices considered corrupt or Catholic.
"The Puritans petitioned Parliament for further religious reform."
Excessively moralistic, austere, or restrictive in attitude or conduct.
"The committee rejected the proposal as unnecessarily puritan."
The usual plural is “puritans.” Capitalization distinguishes the historical movement when referring to its members.
"The early Puritans established schools to promote literacy."
The word began as a name for religious reformers, but its lowercase meaning has hardened into a label for moral rigidity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does puritan come from?
The word entered English in the early 17th century in the sense of an advocate of purity, especially in religion. It was borrowed from French puritain, ultimately associated with Latin puritas, meaning “purity,” the same broad source as purity, purify, and purification. Its English religious sense developed among supporters of the Puritan reform movement, while the modern disparaging sense arose by extension to anyone regarded as excessively strict in matters of conduct.
Related word forms
How puritan is actually used
In modern general use, the term is usually critical: it implies that someone is self-righteous or excessively restrictive. The capitalized historical sense is neutral and should be used when discussing the 16th- and 17th-century English Protestant movement or a related group.
Easily confused with puritan
With an initial capital letter, Puritan usually refers to a member of the 16th- or 17th-century English Protestant reform movement; the lowercase form commonly describes a person who is excessively strict.