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- Pedantry - meaning & definition
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Translate Files Pedantry
/ˈpɛdəntri/
Meaning & Definition
noun
Excessive concern with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning.
His pedantry was evident in the way he corrected everyone’s minor grammatical errors during discussions.
A display of learning for its own sake, often to the annoyance of others.
The lecture was filled with such pedantry that most students left feeling more confused than enlightened.
A focus on trivial details at the expense of a broader point.
In her critique of the novel, she fell into pedantry, obsessively analyzing a single phrase while ignoring the overall themes.
The practice of paying excessive attention to formal rules and details.
His pedantry about following the recipe exactly led to disastrous results in the kitchen.
Etymology
From French 'péda-ntrie' and Latin 'paedagogia', related to 'pedagogue'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
pedantic nitpicker
A person who is overly concerned with minor details or trivial points.
pedantic teacher
An instructor who focuses excessively on formal rules and minor details.
pedantry in writing
A style of writing that emphasizes trivial details and correction.
Related Words
pedant
A person who is overly concerned with formal rules and details.
pedagogical
Relating to teaching or education.
Slang Meanings
Grammar Nazi
Don't be such a Grammar Nazi; it's just a casual email.
Detail freak
He's a detail freak when it comes to presentations.