Definition
A member of a Protestant group seeking to purify the Church of England from Catholic practices, or more generally, someone with strict moral or religious principles. Often implies rigid adherence to ethical standards.
Etymology
From Latin 'purus' (pure) with the suffix '-itan.' First used in the 1560s to describe English Protestants who wanted to 'purify' church practices. The term was often used pejoratively by opponents before being adopted by the group itself.
Kelly Says
The Puritans gave us both the work ethic that helped build America and the phrase 'Puritan work ethic,' but they weren't actually the joyless killjoys of popular imagination - they enjoyed music, colorful clothing, and even alcohol in moderation! Their reputation for severity was largely exaggerated by later critics.
Translations
ARالعربية
بوريطان
boo-ree-TAHN
BNবাংলা
পুরিতান
poo-ree-TAHN
CACatalà
purità
poo-ree-TAH
CSČeština
puritán
poo-ree-TAHN
DADansk
puritaner
poo-ree-TAH-ner
DEDeutsch
Puritaner
poo-ree-TAH-ner
ELΕλληνικά
πυριτανός
pee-ree-TAH-nohs
ESEspañol
puritano
poo-ree-TAH-noh
FAفارسی
پوریتن
poo-ree-TAHN
FISuomi
puritaani
poo-ree-TAH-nee
FRFrançais
puritain
py-ree-TEN
GUGU
પ્યુરિટન
pyoo-ree-TAHN
HAHA
puritan
poo-ree-TAHN
HEעברית
פוריטן
poo-ree-TAHN
HIहिन्दी
प्यूरिटन
pyoo-ree-TAHN
HUMagyar
puritán
poo-ree-TAHN
IDBahasa Indonesia
puritan
poo-ree-TAHN
IGIG
puritan
poo-ree-TAHN
ITItaliano
puritano
poo-ree-TAH-noh
KKKK
пуритан
poo-ree-TAHN
KMKM
ពុរីតាន
poo-ree-TAHN
MRMR
प्युरिटन
pyoo-ree-TAHN
MSBahasa Melayu
puritan
poo-ree-TAHN
MYမြန်မာ
ပျူရီတန်
pyoo-ree-TAHN
NLNederlands
puritein
poo-ree-TAYN
NONorsk
puritaner
poo-ree-TAH-ner
PAPA
ਪਿਊਰੀਟਨ
pyoo-ree-TAHN
PLPolski
purysta
poo-REES-tah
PTPortuguês
puritano
poo-ree-TAH-noo
RORomână
puritan
poo-ree-TAHN
RUРусский
пуританин
poo-ree-TAH-neen
SVSvenska
puritan
poo-ree-TAHN
SWKiswahili
mpuritani
m-poo-ree-TAH-nee
TAதமிழ்
புரித்தான்
poo-ree-THAHN
TEతెలుగు
ప్యూరిటన్
pyoo-ree-TAHN
THไทย
ผู้บริสุทธิ์
poo-bri-soot
TLTL
puritano
poo-ree-TAH-noh
TRTürkçe
puritan
poo-ree-TAHN
UKУкраїнська
пуритан
poo-ree-TAHN
URاردو
پورٹین
poo-ree-TAHN
VITiếng Việt
tín đồ thanh khiết
teen doh thang keet
YOYO
puritani
poo-ree-TAH-nee
ZUZU
ipuritani
ee-poo-ree-TAH-nee
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Puritan movements enforced strict moral codes differentially affecting women's autonomy, dress, and public participation. Historical revisionism often erases women's roles as religious leaders and theological thinkers within Puritan communities.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'puritan' descriptively for historical movement or values, but avoid conflating with misogyny—many women shaped Puritan theology and practice.
Inclusive Alternatives
["austere","ascetic","morally strict"]
Empowerment Note
Women like Anne Bradstreet and Mary Rowlandson produced sophisticated Puritan intellectual and literary work despite severe constraints.