¹critic

noun crit·ic \ˈkri-tik\

Definition of CRITIC

a : one who expresses a reasoned opinion on any matter especially involving a judgment of its value, truth, righteousness, beauty, or technique

b : one who engages often professionally in the analysis, evaluation, or appreciation of works of art or artistic performances

: one given to harsh or captious judgment

Origin of CRITIC

Latin criticus, from Greek kritikos, from kritikos able to discern or judge, from krinein

First Known Use: 1588

Other Job Terms

factotum, milliner, ostler, scrivener, tinker, webster, wordsmith

Rhymes with CRITIC

clitic

²critic

noun

Definition of CRITIC

archaic : criticism

archaic : critique

Origin of CRITIC

Greek kritikē art of the critic, from feminine of kritikos

First Known Use: 1651

CRITICS Defined for Kids

critic

noun crit·ic \ˈkri-tik\

Definition of CRITIC for Kids

: a person who makes or gives a judgment of the value, worth, beauty, or quality of something <a movie critic>

: a person who finds fault or complains

Word Root of CRITIC

The Greek word kritikos, meaning “able to judge,” gives us the root critic. Words from the Greek kritikos have something to do with judging. A critic is someone who judges the value or quality or something, such as a movie or book. Someone critical makes a lot of judgments and usually decides that things are not good. To criticize is to make a judgment that something is not good.