VOOZH about

URL: https://www.wordreference.com/definition/pedantic

⇱ pedantic - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

pedantic

Listen:
UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/pɪˈdæntɪk/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/pəˈdæntɪk/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(pə dan′tik)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pe•dan•tic  (pə dan′tik),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. ostentatious in one's learning.
  2. overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, esp. in teaching.
Also, pe•dan′ti•cal. 
  • pedant + -ic 1590–1600
pe•dan′ti•cal•ly, adv. 
pe•dan′ti•cal•ness, n. 
    2. . didactic, doctrinaire.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
pedantic /pɪˈdæntɪk/ adj
  1. of, relating to, or characterized by pedantryAlso (obsolete): pedantical
peˈdantically adv
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ped•ant /ˈpɛdənt/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. one who enjoys displaying learning.
  2. one too concerned with minor details, esp. in teaching:a boring, uninspiring pedant whose students fall asleep in his classes.
  3. one too concerned with book knowledge without regard to common sense.
pe•dan•tic /pəˈdæntɪk/USA pronunciation  adj. 
ped•ant•ry, n. [uncountable]See -ped2-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ped•ant  (ped′nt),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a person who makes an excessive or inappropriate display of learning.
  2. a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details.
  3. a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.
  4. [Obs.]a schoolmaster.
  • Italian pedante teacher, pedant; apparently akin to pedagogue; see -ant
  • 1580–90
ped′ant•esque′, adj. 
ped′ant•hood′, n. 
    2. hairsplitter.
'pedantic' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "pedantic" in the title:


Look up "pedantic" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "pedantic" at dictionary.com
  • Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic

Advertisements
Advertisements
Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com
WORD OF THE DAY
GET THE DAILY EMAIL!
Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.
Firefox users: use search shortcuts for the fastest search of WordReference.
Copyright © 2026 WordReference.com
Please report any problems.