French Conversation · Level 92
60 words
French word
puritain
Pronunciation
IPA/pyʁitɛ̃/
Meaning
- adjectivepuritanical
Example
Son attitude est trop puritaine.
His attitude is too puritanical.
More examples
Beaucoup critiquent des lois trop puritaines.
Many criticize overly puritanical laws.
Core concept
A strict moral gatekeeper who treats many pleasures as improper.
Common phrases
attitude puritaine
puritanical attitude
esprit puritain
puritanical mindset
jugement puritain
moralistic judgment
Similar words
moralisateur: Given to judging others morally and lecturing or condemning them.
bigot: Blindly devoted to religious or moral beliefs and hostile to dissent.
intolérant: Unwilling to accept different values or ways of behaving.
sévère: Harsh and unforgiving in judging people or their actions.
Definition in French
Qui adopte une stricte discipline morale et juge comme indécents ou excessifs les plaisirs ou comportements contraires à ses valeurs.
Word origin
French puritain comes through English Puritan, the name of a Protestant movement, and ultimately relates to Latin purus, meaning pure.
Usage tips
- In French, puritain often suggests judgment of other people's conduct, not merely personal self-restraint, and can sound critical.
Opposites
- toléranttolerantadjective
- permissifpermissiveadjective
Related words
- puritanismepuritanismnoun
- puritainementpuritanicallyadverb