| English Dictionary |
PEDANTIC
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does pedantic mean?
• PEDANTIC (adjective)
The adjective PEDANTIC has 1 sense:
1. marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
Familiarity information: PEDANTIC used as an adjective is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
Synonyms:
Similar:
scholarly (characteristic of scholars or scholarship)
Derivation:
pedant (a person who pays more attention to formal rules and book learning than they merit)
pedantry (an ostentatious and inappropriate display of learning)
Context examples
"The first-fruits of our labors," said Challenger in his booming, pedantic fashion.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"When a man moves away from nature his heart becomes hard." (Native American proverb, Lakota)
"The fruit of silence is tranquility." (Arabic proverb)
"He who sleeps cannot catch fish." (Corsican proverb)