pernickety

[ per-nik-i-tee ]

adjective

1. persnickety.

pernickety

/ pəˈnɪkɪtɪ /

adjective

1. excessively precise and attentive to detail; fussy
2. (of a task) requiring close attention; exacting

Derived Forms

• perˈnicketiness, noun

Other Words From

• per·nicket·i·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pernickety¹

1800–10; originally Scots; of uncertain origin; the prefix per- occurs in a number of other expressive words in Scots, e.g. pergaddus thump, clatter, perskeet fastidious, perjink trim, neat

Word History and Origins

Origin of pernickety¹

C19: originally Scottish, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Personally, I think #cupgate took root because we are pernickety idiots who love to think we would never make a mistake on that scale and actually could do a far better job of things.

From The Guardian

I enjoyed the pernickety details of style, and found etymology rewarding.

From The Guardian

Soon, however, he was making it feel very pernickety to dwell on such minor lapses.

From The Guardian

And, if Us failed to deliver the same body blow – you can’t pull off that sort of trick twice – it was perhaps because it was hard to love its pernickety, middle-aged narrator.

From The Guardian

I thought to myself: “I never knew Ian was so virile, so military in his bearing, such a pernickety sergeant-major of a man.”

From The Guardian