puritan
person with very strict morals
A person who thinks many kinds of pleasure are wrong and is very strict about what is right or wrong, especially about sex and fun.
[someone] is a puritan about [something]
- He’s a real puritan when it comes to drinking and parties.
- Don’t be such a puritan—there’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself once in a while.
- Her friends teased her as a puritan because she refused to watch shows with a lot of sex and violence.
- The new policy was written by puritans who want to ban anything that might be considered fun.
- I’m a bit of a puritan about saving money and hate spending it on luxury items.
- My brother is a puritan about food and never eats sweets.
- Her parents are puritans and do not like loud music or dancing.
- He sounds like a puritan when he talks about dating.
- They think I am a puritan because I do not like dirty jokes.
- The teacher is a puritan about phone use in class.
member of a historical Protestant group
A person in history who belonged to a very serious Christian group in England and America. They wanted simple church services and very strict rules for how people should live.
a Puritan [leader/group/settler]
- Many early New England settlers were Puritans seeking religious freedom.
- Puritan leaders enforced strict rules on dress, worship, and daily behavior.
- The play explores the influence of Puritans on colonial American society.
- As a Puritan, he believed that hard work and self-discipline were religious duties.
- The Puritans wanted to reform the Church of England, not separate from it at first.
- In history class we read about the Puritans in America.
- The Puritans had very simple church buildings.
- Some Puritans left England because of their religion.
- A famous Puritan leader helped start the new colony.
- Puritans believed that fun things could be dangerous for the soul.
having very strict moral views
Thinking that many kinds of pleasure are wrong and having very strict rules about what is good or bad, especially about sex or fun.
[someone] is puritan about [something]
- Her parents are surprisingly puritan about dating and parties.
- The dress code is almost puritan, banning short skirts and sleeveless tops.
- His views on movies and music are a little too puritan for my taste.
- The school’s puritan attitude toward relationships has been widely criticized.
- I grew up in a very puritan household where alcohol was completely forbidden.
- My uncle is very puritan about alcohol.
- The rules in that house are quite puritan.
- Her mother is puritan about clothes and makeup.
- The club’s new policy feels puritan and old-fashioned.
- He has a puritan view of love and sex.
relating to the historical Puritans
Connected with the Puritans in history, their religion, or their very simple and strict way of life.
Puritan [values/beliefs/ethic/tradition]
- The region’s laws reflect a strong Puritan heritage.
- Their Puritan work ethic emphasized hard labor and self-control.
- The museum has an exhibit on Puritan life in New England.
- Some modern debates about sexuality still echo Puritan beliefs.
- The architecture of the meeting house is very plain and Puritan in style.
- We studied Puritan beliefs in our history class.
- The town has many old Puritan churches.
- Her family keeps some traditional Puritan values.
- He wrote a book about Puritan culture in America.
- The simple house showed a Puritan way of life.
- Base: puritan
- Base: puritan
- Plural: puritans
a bit of a puritan
1someone who is somewhat strict morally
Used to say that someone is rather strict about what is right or wrong, especially about sex, alcohol, or fun, but not in an extreme way.
- I’m a bit of a puritan when it comes to watching violent movies.
- She’s a bit of a puritan about drinking, so don’t expect her to go to bars.
- He can be a bit of a puritan, but he means well.
a puritan streak
1tendency toward strict moral views
A part of someone’s character that makes them strict about pleasure or moral rules.
- Despite his easygoing image, he has a puritan streak about money and debt.
- There’s a puritan streak in our culture that still makes people feel guilty about enjoying themselves.