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Definition of persnickety - 3 dictionary results

per⋅snick⋅et⋅y

  [per-snik-i-tee]
Use persnickety in a Sentence
–adjective Informal.
1. overparticular; fussy.
2. snobbish or having the aloof attitude of a snob.
3. requiring painstaking care.
Also, pernickety.

Origin:
1885–90; orig. Scots, var. of pernickety

Related forms:
per⋅snick⋅et⋅i⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. nitpicking, finicky.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To persnickety
per·snick·e·ty   (pər-snĭk'ĭ-tē)   
adj.  

    1. Overparticular about trivial details; fastidious.

    2. Snobbish; pretentious.

  2. Requiring strict attention to detail; demanding: a persnickety job.


[Alteration of pernickety.]
per·snick'e·ti·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

persnickety 
1905, alteration of pernickety (q.v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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