punctilio

[ puhngk-til-ee-oh ]

noun

, plural punc·til·i·os

1. a fine point, particular, or detail, as of conduct, ceremony, or procedure.
2. strictness or exactness in the observance of formalities or amenities.

punctilio

/ pʌŋkˈtɪlɪˌəʊ /

noun

1. strict attention to minute points of etiquette
2. a petty formality or fine point of etiquette

Word History and Origins

Origin of punctilio¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; alteration of Italian puntiglio, from Spanish puntillo, diminutive of punto, from Latin pūnctum point

Word History and Origins

Origin of punctilio¹

C16: from Italian puntiglio small point, from punto point, from Latin punctum point

Example Sentences

Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo once described the standard of a fiduciary’s conduct to be “something stricter than the morals of the marketplace. Not honesty alone, but the punctilio of an honor the most sensitive.”

From Washington Post

They combined, then as now, a wild bureaucratic adherence to punctilio and procedure with entanglements of cohort and clan that could shortcut the procedure in a moment.

From The New Yorker

There lingers, even in our mercantile age, an admiration for the aristocratic ethos, the punctilio, of the duel.

From Washington Post

Contestants smiled and struggled as they spelled words like “philhellenism” and “punctilio” to move on to the next round.

From Time

Disobedience was heresy, and Rome, for a century, endeavored to convulse Europe on this simple punctilio.

From Project Gutenberg