noun
puritan
PYOOR-rih-tuhn
noun
1
A person who is extremely strict about morals, especially concerning pleasure or sex.
"His coworkers joked that he was a bit of a puritan about drinking."
2
Historically, a member of a Protestant movement that sought simpler worship and stricter morality.
"The Puritans left England seeking religious freedom in the New World."
How to Use Puritan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or, historically, a religious group) known for strict, disapproving views on pleasure and morality.
Common pairings
puritan values
puritan work ethic
Word Forms
more puritan comparative, puritans plural, Puritans plural, most puritan superlative
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Etymology
From the historical religious movement of the Puritans, who sought to "purify" the Church of England of Catholic practices.