pundit

[ puhn-dit ]
See synonyms for pundit on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a learned person, expert, or authority: This pundit's formal instruction in history, philosophy, and political science prepared her for activism in many campaigns.

  2. a person who makes comments or judgments, especially in an authoritative manner; critic or commentator: Opinions masquerade as news, while ill-informed pundits and vested interests cloud the issues and bend the truth into pretzels.

Origin of pundit

1
First recorded in 1665–75; from Hindi paṇḍit, from Sanskrit paṇḍita “learned man” (noun), “learned” (adjective); of uncertain origin; perhaps akin to prajñā́ “knowledge” (see also pro1, know1 )

pronunciation note For pundit

See tenet.

Other words for pundit

Other words from pundit

  • pun·dit·ic [puhn-dit-ik], /ˌpʌnˈdɪt ɪk/, adjective
  • pun·dit·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with pundit

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pundit in a sentence

  • Several Pundits were astonished at her wonderful acquirements.

    The Hindoos as they Are | Shib Chunder Bose
  • And certainly, for us, whatever the pundits claim, the wilds of Leo Ornstein are not so raging and lion-infested.

    Musical Portraits | Paul Rosenfeld
  • The "learned pundits" in such matters declare that the economy of human nature is entirely carried on through their agency.

    The Bunsby papers | John Brougham
  • When will the obfusc pundits stop shouting for what Avery Hopwood calls "ascending and descending tetrarchs!"

    The Merry-Go-Round | Carl Van Vechten
  • A trainload of pundits, including his one-time critics, went to Santiniketan to offer their congratulations.

    Autobiography of a YOGI | Paramhansa Yogananda

British Dictionary definitions for pundit

pundit

/ (ˈpʌndɪt) /


noun
  1. an expert

  2. (formerly) a learned person

  1. Also called: pandit a Brahman learned in Sanskrit and, esp in Hindu religion, philosophy or law

Origin of pundit

1
C17: from Hindi pandit, from Sanskrit pandita learned man, from pandita learned

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012