adjective
meticulous
mih-TIHK-yih-lihs
adjective
1
Extremely careful and precise about details.
"The surgeon was meticulous in checking every instrument before the operation."
"Her meticulous notes made it easy to retrace every step of the experiment."
How to Use Meticulous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPaying very close attention to every small detail.
Common pairings
meticulous attention to detail
meticulous planning
meticulously researched
Word Forms
more meticulous comparative, most meticulous superlative
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The surgeon was _____ in checking every instrument before the operation.
Etymology
From Latin meticulosus ("fearful, timid"), from metus ("fear"). The modern sense of "careful about detail" developed later, likely influenced by the similar French word méticuleux.