strict

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English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere (to draw tight, bind, contract). Doublet of strait and stretto. See stringent, strain.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /stɹɪkt/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪkt

Adjective

strict (comparative stricter or more strict, superlative strictest or most strict)

  1. Strained; drawn close; tight.
    Synonyms: taut, tensioned; see also Thesaurus:taut
    strict embrace
    strict ligature
  2. Tense; not relaxed.
    strict fiber
  3. Exact; accurate; precise; rigorously particular.
    Synonyms: correct, dead on, thorough; see also Thesaurus:meticulous
    to keep strict watch
    to pay strict attention
  4. Governed or governing by exact rules; observing exact rules; severe; rigorous.
    Synonyms: (obsolete) nice, precise, puritanical
    they are very strict in observing the Sabbath
    • 1904–1905, Baroness Orczy , “The Hocussing of Cigarette”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020:
      No one, however, would have anything to do with him, as Mr. Keeson's orders in those respects were very strict ; he had often threatened any one of his employés with instant dismissal if he found him in company with one of these touts.
  5. Rigidly interpreted; exactly limited; confined; restricted.
    Synonyms: narrow, proper
    to understand words in a strict sense
  6. (botany) Upright, or straight and narrow; — said of the shape of the plants or their flower clusters.
  7. Severe in discipline.
    Synonyms: brutal, harsh, stringent, tough; see also Thesaurus:stern
    Antonyms: lenient, lax, permissive
    Our teacher was always very strict. If we didn't behave, we would get punished.
    It was a very strict lesson.
  8. (set theory, order theory) Irreflexive; if the described object is defined to be reflexive, that condition is overridden and replaced with irreflexive.

Usage notes

  • Stricter and strictest are the grammatically correct forms for the comparative and superlative though outside the UK more strict and most strict are more often used.

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Further reading

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin strictus, perfect participle of stringere (to draw tight, bind, contract). Doublet of étroit.

Pronunciation

Adjective

strict (feminine stricte, masculine plural stricts, feminine plural strictes)

  1. strict

Derived terms

Further reading

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French strict, from Latin strictus. Doublet of strâmt, which was inherited.

Adjective

strict m or n (feminine singular strictă, masculine plural stricți, feminine and neuter plural stricte)

  1. strict

Declension

Declension of strict
singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative-
accusative
indefinite strict strictă stricți stricte
definite strictul stricta stricții strictele
genitive-
dative
indefinite strict stricte stricți stricte
definite strictului strictei stricților strictelor