critic

KRIT-ik/ˈkɹɪt.ɪk/

7 meanings of critic

1
nouncountable
Someone who often points out what is wrong with a person, plan, or idea.
Like someone who always points to the one spot you missed when cleaning.
Her biggest critic is her own brother, who notices every mistake she makes.
Critics of the plan said it would cost far too much money.
Similardetractor, faultfinder, attacker
Oppositesupporter, defender, champion, advocate
Note
2
nouncountable
A person whose job is to judge art, books, films, or music and share opinions on them.
Like a judge at a contest who decides which painting is the best.
The film critic gave the new release four stars.
Several critics praised the exhibition for its bold use of color.
Similarreviewer, commentator, pundit
3
nouncountable
A person who looks at the work others have made and judges how good it is.
Like a teacher who grades the work that students hand in.
As a critic, he reads dozens of manuscripts before recommending any for publication.
The young writers feared the critics who would review their first novels.
Similarjudge, assessor, evaluator, reviewer
Note
4
nouncountable
Someone who stands against a person, plan, or idea.
Like the player on the other team who tries to stop you.
The senator's critics tried to block every bill she introduced.
He became a fierce critic of the company after they laid off his friends.
Similaropponent, detractor, adversary, dissident
Oppositesupporter, proponent, advocate, ally

Less common meanings

5
nounobsoletecountable
Obsolete form of critique. An old spelling once used for a piece of criticism.
Make each day a Critick on the last.
1711, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on CriticismHere, Critick means a critique, a careful judgment of something.
Note
6
nounobsoleteuncountable
Obsolete form of critique. An old word for the art of judging and analyzing work.
And, perhaps, if they were distinctly weighed, and duly considered, they would afford us another sort of logic and critic, than what we have been hitherto acquainted with.
1689, [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane UnderstandingHere, critic means critique, a way of judging and examining things.
Note
7
verbobsoletetransitive or intransitive
To find fault with someone or something.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of critic apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It came from a Greek word meaning "able to judge," which came from the Greek verb meaning "I judge."