pedantic

[ puh-dan-tik ]

adjective

1. ostentatious in one's learning.
2. overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, especially in teaching.

   Synonyms: doctrinaire, didactic

pedantic

/ pɪˈdæntɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by pedantry

Derived Forms

• peˈdantically, adverb

Other Words From

• pe·danti·cal·ly adverb
• pe·danti·cal·ness noun
• semi·pe·dantic adjective
• semi·pe·danti·cal adjective
• semi·pe·danti·cal·ly adverb
• unpe·dantic adjective
• unpe·danti·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pedantic¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; pedant + -ic

Example Sentences

It's told in a joke, so it makes the point without being pedantic about it or anything like that.

From Salon

But as the motley group of Colorado voters who brought the case against Trump put it, you have to engage in “pedantic wordplay” to not apply Section 3 to Trump.

From Los Angeles Times

After a slightly pedantic exchange about wording, she conceded this meant she had deleted them.

From BBC

Look at his mom, and the town, and the pedantic and myopic thinking.

From Salon

There was no TV, save a lone, uninspiring black-and-white channel; the young read books and listened to music, while most papers and magazines were pedantic and mundane.

From BBC

Related Words

• abstruse
• pompous
• stilted