puritan

/ˈpjʊrɪtən/
noun
  1. A person who follows strict moral or religious rules, especially one who criticizes others for not being strict enough.
    • The old puritan refused to attend any event that served alcohol.
    • He was labeled a puritan by his classmates because he objected to the movie's content.
    • My aunt is a bit of a puritan who thinks all modern music is immoral.
  2. A member of a Protestant group in the 16th and 17th centuries that wanted simpler forms of worship and stricter moral rules.
    • The Puritan community in Salem is famous for the witch trials of 1692.
    • Many early New England settlements were founded by Puritans who wanted to reform the Church of England.
    • The Puritans sailed to America seeking religious freedom to practice their strict beliefs.
adjective
  1. Relating to the Puritans or their strict moral and religious beliefs.
    • The town's puritan laws banned all forms of entertainment on Sundays.
    • She wore a simple, puritan dress that covered her from neck to ankle.
    • His puritan attitude toward fun made him unpopular at parties.
What does "puritan" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean