Meaning & Definition of word "Pedantic"

Pedantic

/pəˈdæn.tɪk/

1. Excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning.
- Example: His pedantic approach to teaching often left students feeling overwhelmed by unnecessary details.
2. Overly concerned with formalism and literal accuracy.
- Example: The lawyer's pedantic insistence on reading every clause verbatim made the meeting drag on for hours.
3. Characterized by a narrow focus on trivial aspects of a subject.
- Example: She found his pedantic commentary on the text rather tedious, as it missed the broader themes.
4. Demonstrating excessive pride in one's knowledge of academic trivia.
- Example: His pedantic nature was evident when he launched into a lengthy discussion about the etymology of words during casual conversation.
5. Marked by an ostentatious display of knowledge.
- Example: The book was criticized for its pedantic tone, which did not engage the average reader.

Derived from the French 'pédant', which refers to a schoolmaster or a learned person.

pedantic tone:

A manner of speaking that emphasizes unnecessary details and formalities.

pedantic approach:

A way of dealing with issues that focuses excessively on minute details.

pedantic criticism:

A critique focused on trivial details rather than the overall picture.

pedantry:

The quality of being pedantic; excessive concern for minor details.

academic:

Relating to education and scholarship.

literalism:

A strict adherence to the exact meaning of words.

Meaning: Nitpick

Example Sentence: Stop being such a nitpick; not every detail is worth arguing about.

Meaning: Know-it-all

Example Sentence: He acts like a know-it-all, always correcting everyone's mistakes.