critic

[ krit-ik ]

noun

1. a person who judges, evaluates, or criticizes:

   a poor critic of men.

2. a person who judges, evaluates, or analyzes literary or artistic works, dramatic or musical performances, or the like, especially for a newspaper or magazine.

   Synonyms: judge, reviewer

3. a person who tends too readily to make captious, trivial, or harsh judgments; faultfinder.

   Synonyms: carper, censurer

4. Archaic.
   1. criticism.
   2. critique.

critic

/ ˈkrɪtɪk /

noun

1. a person who judges something
2. a professional judge of art, music, literature, etc
3. a person who often finds fault and criticizes

Other Words From

• super·critic noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of critic¹

1575–85; < Latin criticus < Greek kritikós skilled in judging (adj.), critic (noun), equivalent to krī́t ( ēs ) judge, umpire ( krī́ ( nein ) to separate, decide + -tēs agent suffix) + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of critic¹

C16: from Latin criticus, from Greek kritikos capable of judging, from kritēs judge; see criterion

Example Sentences

This isn’t just hyperbole from a harsh Trump critic.

From Los Angeles Times

TV critic Scott Bryan, from the BBC's Must Watch podcast, has previously said on X the show had "been a training ground for many actors".

From BBC

Sanjari was a vocal critic of Iran's leaders and advocate for democracy.

From BBC

Barrymore also received some backlash both last year and earlier this year in interviews with both Oprah Winfrey and Kamala Harris, both times due to her physical proximity to both women, as well as her referencing "Momala," which Salon's Senior Critic Melanie McFarland deemed "a cringefest" back in May.

From Salon

“One can hear the essences of all of those bandstands, concert jobs, dances, parties and jam sessions in the freedom of his beat and command of tempo,” critic Stanley Crouch, a drummer himself, wrote for the online magazine Slate.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• authority
• cartoonist
• commentator
• expert
• judge
• pundit
• reviewer